The reason Op Is giving everyone the default permissions of true is because your PEX isn’t loading. You simply need to create an empty file named permission.json (It will auto fill in the file for you) and also create a blank permissionsex.conf file which will be auto fill as well once you create the file.
I can make you both files and send to you on Skype if you’d like.
Also make sure you updated your SpongeForge alse.
“Edit” Also, your using both Core and Essentialcmds?