Cross River Labour Orders Workers To Boycott Verification Exercise
Labour Rejects Ongoing Verification Exercise
ORGANISED Labour in Cross River State has directed civil and public servants to immediately withdraw from the state’s ongoing online audit and verification exercise, citing concerns over the alleged inclusion of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) without prior agreement with labour unions.
The directive, issued through a joint letter signed by leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), marks a significant development in the relationship between organised labour and the state government over workforce management and pension reforms.
According to the unions, the exercise contains components that were neither discussed nor agreed upon during previous consultations with government officials.
Concerns Over Contributory Pension Scheme
At the centre of the disagreement is the reported incorporation of the Contributory Pension Scheme into the verification process.
Labour leaders argued that throughout several engagements with the Office of the Head of Service, the issue of enrolling workers into the pension scheme was never presented as part of the audit exercise.
The unions maintained that the sudden appearance of pension-related requirements has generated anxiety among workers, many of whom reportedly fear that they are being compelled to join a pension arrangement without adequate consultation or clarification.
According to organised labour, any policy capable of affecting retirement benefits, pension structures, or conditions of service must undergo extensive stakeholder engagement before implementation.
Workers Directed to Withdraw Participation
Following an emergency meeting held on 2nd June, labour leaders resolved that workers should discontinue participation in the exercise until outstanding issues are addressed.
The unions described the concerns raised by workers as legitimate and warned that failure to address them could create confusion and industrial tension within the public service.
Labour officials stressed that transparency and consultation remain critical in any reform process involving employees’ welfare and future retirement security.
The directive effectively places the verification exercise in contention, with labour insisting that government must first clarify contentious provisions before the process can continue.
Verification Exercise Intended for Workforce Management
The online audit and verification exercise was introduced as part of efforts to update personnel records, improve administrative efficiency, and strengthen accountability within the state civil service.
Such exercises are commonly deployed by governments to identify discrepancies in workforce data, eliminate irregularities, and ensure accurate payroll management.
However, labour organisations contend that workforce verification should not be used as a vehicle for introducing policy changes that have not undergone proper negotiation with employee representatives.
Awaiting Government Response
Copies of the labour letter were forwarded to key government officials, including the Secretary to the State Government, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Labour Matters, and the Federal Controller of Labour in Cross River State.
As of the time of reporting, the Office of the Head of Service had not issued an official response to the demand for suspension of the exercise or the directive instructing workers to boycott participation.
The development sets the stage for possible negotiations between organised labour and the state government as both sides seek a resolution capable of restoring confidence in the verification process while addressing workers’ concerns.
