The Cross River State government says it will open a fresh recruitment portal within the next two weeks to recruit 4,000 workers into the state’s local government service.

The chairman, Eyo Ekpo, made the disclosure on Friday in Calabar while explaining the government’s decision to cancel the previous local government service recruitment exercise.

Mr Ekpo said the fresh recruitment would give qualified Cross River residents, including those affected by the cancellation, an opportunity to apply through a transparent process.

He said the 4,000 vacancies represented a significant increase from the previous exercise for which 500 positions were initially approved.

According to him, additional vacancies were later approved to fill gaps created by retirements, bringing the figure to about 700.

He said that 81 staff recruited by the Civil Service Commission and subsequently redesignated to the local government service brought the total approved figure to 821.

Mr Ekpo said that the previous commission exceeded the approved figure by recruiting no fewer than 7,000 persons.

“That exercise was characterised by irregularities according to the panel of inquiry constituted by the government to investigate the process.

“The state government could not ignore the panel’s findings, so it took the decision to cancel the exercise and provide a fresh opportunity for qualified applicants,” he said.

He said that the fresh window of application will be transparent, fair and honest, saying, “Residents who meet the stipulated requirements are urged to apply.”

(NAN)