Head of Service, Dr. Innocent Eteng, unequivocally declared.
By Christiana Ofem
The Cross River State Government has delivered a clear message to its employees and their representatives: offering gratification to government officials in exchange for promotions is strictly prohibited. This firm stance, outlined in a public service announcement released by the Head of Service, Dr. Innocent Eteng on January 23, 2024, aims to combat potential corruption within the civil service.
The announcement directly addressed a social media post accusing a director in the Civil Service Commission of engaging in corrupt practices linked to promotions. The government swiftly dismissed these allegations, emphasizing that “any promotion not following due process will be rejected without hesitation.”
Head of Service, Dr. Innocent Eteng, unequivocally declared, “Promotions within the Cross River State civil service must solely be based on merit. We will not tolerate, under any circumstances, any form of corruption that undermines the integrity of our system.” He encouraged all civil servants to report any suspected instances of corruption to the designated authorities without delay.
Dr. Eteng’s statement serves as a stark reminder of the significant challenge corruption poses in Nigeria.
Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index paints a concerning picture, ranking Nigeria at 144th out of 180 countries evaluated. This index reflects the perceived level of public sector corruption within a nation.