C’River Assembly: Big Moves to Amend the Local Government Law

The Cross River State House of Assembly is shaking things up! They’re making bold moves to tweak the Local Government Law 2007, and the buzz is all about increasing political appointments across Local Government Areas (LGAs).

On Tuesday, in the heart of Calabar, Rt. Hon. Davies Etta from Abi State Constituency took centre stage with his game-changing bill. It’s all about boosting grassroots engagement and making governance feel closer to the people.

This bill proposes raising the number of appointees in each LGA to a solid 50. Yep, you heard that right 50! It’s not just about numbers; it’s about new roles, too. Sixteen Special Adviser positions are coming on board, plus a fresh category called Ward Relation Officers.

The idea? These officers will have ranks equivalent to Special Advisers and report directly to LGA Chairmen. Imagine having more ears on the ground, watching every nook and cranny of the community. Talk about taking governance to the people’s doorstep!

“The Chairman of Council may appoint such a number of Special Advisers to assist him in the discharge of his duties, provided that appointments, when added to other statutory appointments, shall not exceed a total number of 50.”

Here’s where it gets even spicier. The amendment wants to greatly upgrade the Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA). The HOLGA office will be elevated to Permanent Secretary status in the state public service.

This means HOLGAs will get all the juicy perks that come with being a Permanent Secretary, such as pensions, privileges, and lots of clout! In case you’re wondering, the HOLGA role is reserved exclusively for those already in the local government service. Keeping it in the family, huh?

The bill has already cruised through its first and second readings like a boss. Now, it’s been passed to a joint committee on Local Government Affairs, Judiciary, and Public Accounts for some serious stakeholder consultations and fine-tuning.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem didn’t mince words. He hyped up the amendment, saying it’s a significant step toward making local government administration stronger and more effective. At its core, this amendment is about improving grassroots governance. By increasing appointees and creating new roles, the assembly aims to bridge the gap between local governments and the communities they serve. Add to that the elevation of HOLGAs, and it’s clear the goal is a more dynamic, responsive system.