Cross River State - HOS Seeks Adequate Orientation for Civil Servants

[CrossRiverState]

The Head of Service, Ntukae (Mrs.) Theresa Ikwen, mni, has called for   proper orientation of new Civil Servants employed into the State Civil Service.

Ntunkae Mary-Theresa Ikwen, stated this when she granted audience to a group of former volunteer teachers whose appointments were recently regularized by the order of the State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke.

The Head of Service said the call for orientation became necessary so as to enable the new comers to the service acquaint themselves with the 'dos' and 'don'ts of the service.

Mrs. Ikwen who was speaking through the Director of Human Resource Data Base, Pastor (Mrs.) Elizabeth Etu, decried the situation whereby newly recruited staff handle service matters by going direct to top Government functionaries over matters of their interest.

She said that the service has a well organized laid down procedure and advised Principal Officers where new teachers were posted to, for proper guidance on service matters check the reoccurrence of ugly developments.

The Head of Service who was reacting to the alleged non-payment of arrears of salaries to the newly engaged teachers, disclosed that payment of those engaged by Government was based on date of assumption of duties, while the specific date on appointment letter, was to act as a guide in terms of retirement.

Earlier the leader of the team, Mr. Arikpo Sanetus Venatius, apologized on behalf of some of his colleagues who made several calls concerning their service matters and assured that such would not occur again.

Mr. Venatius said, they were in the office of the Head of Service to press home their demand for arrears of five months salaries, stating that, "the Secondary Education Board had in January, 2013 asked them to continue with their duties as Government had approved their conversion to permanent teachers.

He expressed dismay over the non-payment of their salaries from January 2013 when the June salaries were paid.

He, however, commended the Head of Service for emphasizing on service procedures and appealed to her for the payment of their outstanding arrears in view of their contribution to the growth of the State by accepting to serve as volunteer teachers over the years.