By Frank Ulom
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – The Government of Cross River State has fixed dates for verification and validation exercise for 300 Forest Rangers recruited in 2024.
This was contained in an internal memo dated 14th November 2025 and signed by Sir Maurice Effiwatt, Chairman of the Cross River State Civil Service Commission.
According to the memo with reference number CRC/433/S.17/VOL.2/365, the verification and validation exercise is scheduled across the three senatorial districts as follows:
Monday, 17th November 2025 — Southern Senatorial District
Tuesday, 18th November 2025 — Central Senatorial District
Wednesday, 19th November 2025 — Northern Senatorial District.
Accordingly, the exercise will hold at the Headquarters of the Cross River State Forestry Commission, Calabar by 9:00am daily.
Candidates are also required to attend with original and photocopies of their credentials including two (2) recent passports. Candidates must appear physically for the exercise.
Failure to comply will be taken to mean such candidate has relinquished the appointment.
Converseer reports that 300 Forest Rangers were employed in April 2024, 19 months later, they have yet to receive their salaries.
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Rt Hon. George O’ben-Etchi, Chairman/CEO of the Cross River State Forestry Commission, told Converseer in an exclusive interview that they needed to sort out the issues of false documentation before proceeding to payrolling them.
He said they had a meeting with them earlier, and some of them were posted to charges (points) where they can get stipends until the issue has been resolved.
“Some of them came for an interview with false documents, and the Civil Service Commission flushed those with false certificates out. We invited them for a meeting and told them Look, this is what we discovered. Please give us some time to sort it out, and when we do, those found wanting will be flushed out.
“However, I posted them to various charges where I know that even when they’ve not started receiving salaries, they’ll be getting some stipends. The Governor is very concerned about it,” Oben-Etchi said.
He disclosed that some of them were already close to retirement age, while others were graduates, for an employment meant for SSCE holders.
“Some of them cannot have retirement benefits because of age. For instance, some will retire in one year from what we discovered and under the Civil Service Commission, they will not be entitled to gratuities and all of that.
“The recruitment is supposed to be for SSCE holders, because it’s Level 4, but many people came with their degrees and did not disclose those degrees at that time. The Governor is interested in pushing some of them to the Homeland Security where they’ll be employed as cadres,” the Forestry Commission Chairman noted.
He said he also encouraged those with degrees/HND to apply for the last Civil Service employment. “When the Civil Service employment came up, I encouraged those who are graduates to apply, and some of them were successful,” he added.
