There is a palpable wave of relief and renewed hope at the famous Obudu Ranch Resort in Cross River State. Following weeks of anxiety and a highly publicized peaceful protest, the Cross River State Government has officially cleared the five months of salary arrears owed to the resort’s workforce.
The payment was officially confirmed on Thursday, July 16, 2026, in a statement released by Sunday Michael, the Special Adviser to the Governor on the Obudu Ranch Resort.
According to the administration, workers started receiving credit alerts on Wednesday after Governor Bassey Otu gave an express directive to release the funds immediately.
Protests Met with Prompt Executive Action
The financial intervention comes just over two weeks after workers at the tourist haven staged a peaceful protest on July 1, 2026. Confronted with months of unpaid wages, the employees had publicly appealed to the state government to look into their plight to save their families from severe hardship.
Rather than facing bureaucratic delays, the workers’ union was met with direct action from the governor’s office.
“From last night, staff started receiving alerts. The mood at the Ranch this morning is one of joy, gratitude, and renewed hope. His Excellency did not just make a promise, he acted immediately. This is leadership that listens and leadership that cares.”
— Sunday Michael, Special Adviser to the Governor
The disbursements cleared not only the five-month base salary backlog but also all outstanding allowances tied to the workers’ contracts.
“People First”: Positioning Obudu for a Tourism Revival
The governor’s aide emphasized that resolving the labor dispute fits perfectly within Governor Otu’s hallmark “People First” governance framework.
Beyond clearing the backlog, the governor has issued a firm directive to the resort’s management to establish seamless, prompt payment schedules in the future to completely prevent salary backlogs from building up again.
The administration believes that a happy, motivated workforce is the fundamental starting point for restoring the resort’s status as Nigeria’s premier holiday destination. “This administration believes that when workers are happy, service improves, and when service improves, tourism thrives,” Michael added.
Expressing the joy of the staff, Ms. Unimashi Adah, an employee at the resort, publicly thanked the governor for prioritizing their welfare. She noted that the unexpected financial relief has lifted a massive weight off the shoulders of many families who live and work around the mountain resort.
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