By Kelvin Obambon
A major power struggle has erupted within the administration of Governor Bassey Otu following conflicting directives over the management of a newly approved recruitment of 4,000 personnel in Cross River State.
The institutional clash came to light on Tuesday following a sharp rebuttal issued by the Cross River State Local Government Service Commission (LGSC), accusing the State Head of Service, Orok Bassey Okon, of attempting to usurp statutory powers and meddle in local government affairs.
The rift was ignited by a circular dated September 11, 2026 (HEAD OF SERVICE CIRCULAR NO: 17/2026), issued by the Office of the Head of Service. In the document, Okon directed all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to submit a comprehensive skill and manpower gap analysis by September 18, 2026, ahead of the 4,000 personnel recruitment drive.
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He noted that the directive followed the approval granted by Governor Otu, adding that the submission was required to “enable the Head of Service take further necessary action towards the implementation of His Excellency’s directive.”
However, in a scathing press statement issued on September 15, 2026, the Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Hon. Eyo Nsa Ekpo, Esq., firmly rejected the Head of Service’s involvement, describing the circular as an unlawful overreach.
Ekpo clarified that the 4,000 approved slots were strictly meant to replace the invalidated 2024/2025 local government recruitment exercise – which was cancelled due to job racketeering, commercialization of slots, and lack of executive approval – and fell solely under the mandate of the LGSC.
“It is not the duty of the Head of Service to recruit staff into the Local Government Service, nor to meddle in, direct, or interfere with the processes of the Local Government Service Commission,” Ekpo declared. “The Head of Service lacks the constitutional, statutory, or administrative power to do so. Recruitment into the Unified Local Government Service is the exclusive preserve of the Local Government Service Commission.”
The LGSC Chairman urged stakeholders and the public to “disregard any contrary circular or directive that seeks to usurp the lawful functions of the Commission,” adding that a transparent digital recruitment portal would soon be launched for the fresh intake.
As of the time of filing this reporting, the Office of the Head of Service has yet to respond to the Commission’s public rebuke, leaving applicants and civil servants in suspense over who holds the legitimate authority to steer the process.
