By David Okpashi
Krestnews reports that the Cross River State House of Assembly has faulted the recruitment of Forest Rangers by the Forestry Commission and has called for an immediate suspension of the exercise.
The Assembly has subsequently summoned the Chairman of the commission to appear before its special committee to offer a public explanation on the exercise.
The House made its decision known while responding to a matter of urgent public interest raised by Hon. Kingsley Ntui Isong, the member representing Etung State’s Constituency.
Hon. Isong had 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 Legislators, the appointment was lopsided by the house’s latest moratorium on logging with the bill providing employment opportunities for Cross Riverians to be employed.
“The Forestry Commission has derailed by considering what should be for everybody to only their friends and family members”, the lawmaker stated.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Matthew Okache, “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.
The then constituted the following members to look into the matter and report back to the House, and the members are:Rt. Hon. Francis Asuquo Bassey, Leader (Odukpani), Rt. Hon. Davies Etta (Abi), Honourable Victor Ekpenyong Nsa (Calabar South II), Honourable Omang Omang (Bekwara), Honourable Odey Brian Wonah (Yala I), Honourable Martins Achadu (Yala II), Honourable Egbe Abeng Egbe (Obubra II), and Honourable Samuel Neji Abang (Ikom I)