The Cross River State Government has validated 52,330 profiles out of 61,167 registered staff and pensioners in its ongoing state-wide personnel audit verification exercise, with 8,837 records still outstanding for further verification and administrative action.
The Head of Service, Barr. Orok Bassey Okon, has consequently convened an urgent meeting of the State-Wide Personnel Audit Verification Committee to review progress, identify challenges and agree on strategies to ensure the successful completion of the exercise.
An executive summary report dated October 14, 2026, showed that of the 8,837 outstanding records, 6,920 individuals are yet to commence the verification process, while 1,917 profiles are still in progress.
The report attributed the outstanding cases to biometric verification difficulties, network challenges, death cases, suspected ghost workers and service exits.
It further indicated that the committee responsible for reviewing and reconciling the findings had recorded 469 cases requiring further attention, while no cases were recorded under the categories of individuals who failed to appear for verification and unresolved cases.
As part of efforts to accelerate the exercise, targeted Information Technology operations will focus on the 1,917 profiles still in progress, with priority given to resolving biometric challenges, updating Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) and correcting name discrepancies where necessary.
The committee meeting featured the presentation of a progress report, review of findings and observations, and discussions on challenges encountered during the verification process.
To ensure an orderly physical verification exercise, the Head of Service, Barr. Orok Bassey Okon, stated that a circular will be issued outlining the timetable for staff and pensioners to present themselves for verification.
A dedicated online link will also be provided for pensioners residing outside Nigeria to complete their validation remotely, eliminating the need to travel back to the country solely for the exercise.
The report recommended that all 61,167 registered individuals undergo proper status verification before any names are removed from the payroll, emphasising that such decisions must be based on accurate and validated records.
The exercise will also involve coordinated personnel verification, data capture, approval, clock-in arrangements, onboarding and office-location setup across the local government areas of the State.
The report stressed the need for sustained administrative follow-up to ensure that all outstanding records are properly addressed and that every account is either cleared or formally archived.
The Head of Service said the verification exercise is expected to strengthen personnel data management, promote accountability and improve the credibility of the State's payroll system.
He emphasised the importance of accurately verifying staff and pensioners' records before taking administrative decisions, noting that the exercise is a critical step towards ensuring a reliable personnel database and strengthening accountability in the State's public service.
By: Kera Okem and Anastasia Ekuma
