Cross River State Governor Senator Ben Ayade Wednesday locked out staff of Government House including Secretary to the State Government (SSG) for coming late to work.

Ayade, who was said to have arrived earlier than 7:30 am, met his office door locked gave an instruction that the main gate should be locked.

Deputy Governor, Professor Ivara Esu, however, arrived shortly after the governor and was allowed through the gate.

Some staff, visitors, including the SSG, Tina Agbor, who came before 8:00 am were all made to stand by the gate for several hours while some workers grumbled.

It was gathered that civil servant official time of resumption was 8:15 am but the Governor who for the first came before the time to the office decided to lock workers outside.

A civil servant who pleaded anonymity said workers were not happy because the governor has refused to grant promotion to workers who are due for promotion.

In his anger, he said, “what will motivate workers to come early to the office when all gratuities are not given to us. Those that are due for promotion have not been promoted”.

Another said, “The official time for us to resume work was 8:15 am and we arrived here before 8:00 am. So why are they locking us outside?”

The gates were however opened at exactly 9:00 am with some staff allowed in while those who came after were left standing outside.

The Guardian