Determined to ensure that pensioners receive more efficient, professional and responsive services, the Cross River State Local Government Pensions Board has trained its newly recruited staff as part of efforts to strengthen capacity and improve pension administration.
The in-house training programme, held on Thursday, August 27, 2026, aligns with the Cross River State Government’s broader commitment to repositioning the Civil Service through continuous capacity building and improved standards of service delivery.
Declaring the session open, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Mrs. MariaMenku Odu, charged the participants to maximise the opportunity by acquiring the knowledge, discipline and professional values required to deliver effectively in their various responsibilities.
Odu emphasised that professionalism, integrity and dedication were critical to effective pension administration, urging the new officers to understand the sensitive nature of their responsibilities and the impact of their conduct on pensioners who depend on the system for their entitlements.
She encouraged the participants to approach their duties with a strong sense of responsibility, noting that competent and disciplined personnel were essential to building a pension administration system that is efficient, transparent and responsive to the needs of the people.
The training was facilitated by Barr. Emmanuel Enamhe, a retired Permanent Secretary and Chairman of the Association of Retired Permanent Secretaries, who took the participants through key principles guiding effective public service.
Enamhe addressed critical areas including the Public Service Rules, Code of Conduct, ethics and integrity, punctuality, official dress code, workplace communication, customer service and the application of Information and Communication Technology in pension administration.
He stressed the importance of transparency in the management of pensioners’ records, noting that accurate records and accountable processes were fundamental to building public trust and ensuring efficient pension administration.
The facilitator also reaffirmed the Board’s zero-tolerance position on corruption, charging the new staff to uphold integrity and accountability in the discharge of their duties.
According to him, better service delivery requires more than technical competence, as public officers must also demonstrate discipline, courtesy, transparency and commitment to the people they are employed to serve.
For the newly recruited officers, the training provided an opportunity to gain a clearer understanding of the rules, responsibilities and professional standards expected of them as they begin their careers in the public service.
In her vote of thanks, Miss Nkese Effiong, who spoke on behalf of the newly employed staff, expressed appreciation to the Board’s management and the facilitator for investing in their professional development.
Effiong said the training would significantly enhance their productivity, competence and professionalism, adding that the knowledge acquired would enable them to discharge their responsibilities more effectively and contribute to the actualisation of the Board’s mandate and the growth of Cross River State.
By Daniel Bebia
