Teachers and an increasing number of civil servants in Cross River State are lamenting excessive extortions by state officials for promotions, implementation of salary increases, and processing of their files.

During the government of Prof Ben Ayade, demands for payments before processing promotions were rife.

A civil servant, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprimand, said, “During Ayade’s tenure, we paid over N40,000 in phases for the implementation of the promotion salary. Some people succeeded, while others didn’t.”

However, the Head of Service in the state, Dr. Innocent Eteng, had earlier challenged any civil servant or public servant in the state who claims to have been charged for promotion to present evidence.

He stated that his office frowns upon such demands and that any state official caught would be seriously penalized.

Close interactions with many civil servants revealed the pain and agony they are enduring.

One courageous civil servant, identified as Benjamin, said that in September this year, they attended an interview at the Civil Service Commission in Calabar.

“We were asked to pay N1,000 each to enable them to verify our APER Form.

“We were also asked to pay another N2,000 for the submission of our files.

“For us to be shortlisted for the interview for promotion, we paid N5,000 each.

“The officials further insisted that we must pay an extra N2,200 for new files to be opened for photocopies of our credentials.”

Findings also indicated that civil servants in some Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) are being charged N3,000.

A source, who is in the director cadre, said they have been advised to keep another N5,000 for the collection of promotion letters.

The source confirmed that they pay these illegal charges to the administrative department of MDAs for onward remittance to those concerned in the state headquarters of the Civil Service Commission.

The source further indicated that they are asked to make payments for the implementation of promotion salaries to the Accountant General’s office, but they do not know how the money is then distributed.

Similarly, during a radio phone-in program in Calabar last weekend, many teachers from different local government areas of the state complained of being charged for interviews and promotions.

Cross River civil servants, teachers lament excessive charges for promotions