Bassey Otu, Cross River Governor, has lifted the 25-year embargo on employment in the state’s civil service.

Dr Erasmus Ekpang, the Commissioner for Information, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Calabar on Wednesday.

While noting that the last time mass employment took place in the service was in 1999, Ekpang said 2,000 people are to be recruited in the first phase

He said the recruitment exercise, which will commence with immediate effect will be carried out across all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.

“The immediate past administration attempted to employ, but when the present government took office, many flaws were discovered in that exercise.

“As we speak, the state civil service is almost depleted, and we are indeed happy that the governor has deemed it necessary to recruit at this point,” he stated.

When asked if the state will pay the N70,000 minimum wage, the commissioner said: “That will be considered at the appropriate time.”

In another development, Otu has commended the people of the state for not participating in the nationwide “Hunger Protest” which began on 1 August.

He specifically commended the youth for deeming it fit to maintain peace in the state.