By Frank Ulom
The Cross River State House of Assembly has faulted the recruitment of Forest Rangers by the State Forestry Commission and has called for an immediate suspension of the recruitment exercise, while also inviting the Chairman of the Commission to appear before its special committee to offer a public explanation of the exercise.
The House made its decision in response to a matter of urgent public interest raised by Hon. Kingsley Ntui Isong, the member representing Etung State’s constituency.
Hon. Isong informed his colleagues that the Forestry Commission’s list of over 350 hires was not distributed equally among the State’s 18 Local Government Areas.
According to the Lawmakers, the appointment was lopsided by the house’s latest moratorium on logging with the bill providing employment opportunities for Cross Riverians to be employed.
According to a statement by Matthew Okache, Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker Elvert Ayambem, on Thursday, the Forestry Commission has derailed by considering what should be for everybody for only their friends and family members.
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“The necessity of having appointments distributed equally throughout the state was also emphasised. Unanimously, the legislators agreed that every Cross Riverian should have an equal opportunity to apply for jobs and be contacted for interviews.
“To look into the Forestry Commission’s operations, particularly the hiring process, which according to the Legislators is shockingly unfair, biased, and favouring certain local government areas over others, the house established a special committee.
“Rt. Hon. Francis Asuquo Bassey, Leader (Odukpani), Rt. Hon. Davies Etta (Abi), Hon. Victor Ekpenyong Nsa (Calabar South II), Hon. Omang Omang (Bekwara), Hon. Odey Brian Wonah (Yala I), Hon. Martins Achadu (Yala II), Hon. Egbe Abeng Egbe (Obubra II), and Hon. Samuel Neji Abang (Ikom I) are among the Committee members to check the abnormalities in the Forestry Commission,” the press release read.