The Auditors-General for State and Local Government in Cross River State have pledged stronger institutional collaboration with the Office of the Head of Service to address administrative challenges, strengthen payroll management and promote transparency and accountability in the public service.
The commitment was made on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, when a delegation of the Commission, led by its Chairman, Mr. Christopher Nyong, paid a courtesy visit to the Head of Service, Barr. Orok Bassey Okon, at his office.
The visit provided an opportunity for both institutions to explore areas of cooperation, particularly in tackling operational challenges and strengthening administrative processes for improved public sector performance.
Receiving the delegation, Okon described the visit as a welcome development, noting that closer cooperation among government institutions was essential to building an efficient, transparent and accountable public service.
He identified irregularities in the state’s payroll system as one of the major challenges requiring attention, disclosing that his office was intensifying efforts to sanitise the system through comprehensive online and physical verification exercises covering civil servants and pensioners.
According to him, the verification exercises are designed to identify discrepancies, eliminate irregularities and ensure that government funds are paid only to legitimate beneficiaries.
The Head of Service expressed his readiness to work with the Commission in identifying and correcting anomalies in the payroll system, stressing that information sharing and coordinated interventions would strengthen the credibility of government records and improve accountability.
He said, “We must work together to identify and address the challenges within the system. Effective collaboration and timely exchange of information are necessary to ensure that government resources are properly managed and directed towards legitimate beneficiaries.”
In his remarks, the Auditor-General for Local Government, Mr. Abam Eko, disclosed that all outstanding payments relating to irregular promotions had been reversed.
Eko reaffirmed his office’s commitment to supporting institutional reforms and working with relevant government agencies to strengthen financial discipline, accountability and effective service delivery across the state.
The meeting was attended by senior directors from the Office of the Head of Service, including the Director, Public Service Office, Mr. Edem Eyo; Director of Accounts, Mr. Martins Atu; Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Stephen Akini; and Mr. Joseph Okem.
By Kera Okem and Anastasia Ekuma
