Govt Of Cross River State Partners With CCPSD In Training Local Government Legislative Council

By, Promise Imoh 

Cross River State government through the office of the Ministry of Local Government Affairs is collaborating with Center For Community Policy and Strategic Development (CCPSD) in launching a three-day capacity building and utilization training workshop for local government councilors, clerks and legislative officers in the state. 

The workshop themed,  “Building institutions to deliver service and facilitate sustainable development in the local government systems” commenced on Tuesday at Ogoja with participants from the Northern Senatorial District. 

The event was declared open by the deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey Ph.D who was represented by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Sylvester Agabi. He stressed on the vital role of local government legislators in strengthening democracy and governance and emphasized that being equipped with the right skills and knowledge would enhance decisions making and service delivery at the grassroots level. 

“Having served for eight years in the State House of Assembly, I understand firsthand the critical role that well-informed lawmakers play in shaping policies that impact the well-being and development of our communities. This workshop will equip councilors and legislative officers with the necessary skills and expertise to carry out their responsibilities effectively,” the deputy governor noted.

He applauded the Ministry of Local Government Affairs and  CCPSD for initiating the training, describing it as a step in line with Governor Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu’s People First leadership vision, which also prioritizes strengthening local governance and fostering and sustainable development and urged participants to utilize the opportunity to enhance their legislative functions, improve their ability to draft, debate, and implement laws, and contribute to the socioeconomic advancement of their constituencies. He also called on stakeholders to collaborate in building resilient institutions capable of delivering quality services and driving sustainable development in the State.

The Chairman of CCPSD, Rt. Hon. John Gaul, in his remarks, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to empowering communities through research-driven policy solutions, strategic development initiatives and capacity-building programs aimed at improving governance and quality of life. He also emphasized on the timeliness of the workshop, as there are ongoing discussions on local government autonomy in Nigeria, and stressed the importance of equipping the legislative officials perform their duties effectively.

Goodwill messages were delivered by Hon. Cyril Omini, Member representing Yakurr 1 State Constituency and Chairman of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation; Prof. Jake Otu Enyia, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) Political to the Governor; as well as former House of Assembly members Rt. Hon. Ogana Lukpata (Yala II) and Hon. Idagu Agaji (Bekwarra). They lauded the state government and CCPSD for organizing such a critical training initiative and urged participants to take full advantage of the opportunity to strengthen their legislative capacity.

Highlights of the workshop were insightful presentations from governance experts and facilitators, covering key areas such as effective legislative procedures, public accountability, legislative career development, local government administration in Nigeria, and stakeholder engagement.