Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has stated that ongoing personnel audits in some government agencies will help his government settle labour grievances and reabsorb some of the old staff.
The governor disclosed this when he paid a visit to the Obudu Mountain Resort, which has fallen into ruins. The visit was part of his extensive visit to government facilities in the northern parts of the state.
“What I have come to meet here is a bit devastating. We have to get the Ranch back to the level it was, with additional aesthetics as soon as possible.
“I am fully aware of the plight of the former staff as well as the union disagreement due to non-payment of their salaries.
“But we will sort that out once the personnel audit is completed. Whether we like it or not, the people who are working here must be accommodated and be carried along in the scheme of things if we must get it back to life again,” he said.
He said the personnel audit will help his government resolve issues of who should be reabsorbed.
Describing it as one of Nigeria’s Seven Wonders, Governor Otu promised to revamp the ranch and make it a major tourism destination in the country once again.
The governor hinted that his administration is discussing with the federal government to partner towards the revamping of the Ranch as well as boosting the legacy projects built by his predecessor, Ben Ayade, such as the Obudu German Hospital, Canadian International School, and the Obudu Cargo Airport, because they are catalysts for the ranch.