C’River assembly moves to amend LG law

 Cross River Assembly Moves to Amend Local Government Law, Proposes More Political Appointments

The Cross River State House of Assembly has commenced the process of amending the Local Government Law of 2007, introducing provisions to increase political appointments across Local Government Areas (LGAs).

The proposed bill, sponsored by Rt. Hon. Davies Etta, representing Abi State Constituency, was debated on Tuesday in Calabar.

Key Provisions of the Bill

The amendment seeks to raise the number of political appointees in each LGA to 50, introducing 16 new Special Adviser positions and a new category of officials referred to as Ward Relation Officers.

According to the bill:

“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.”

The Ward Relation Officers will have the same rank as Special Advisers and will report directly to their respective LGA Chairmen.

Enhancing Grassroots Governance

This legislative proposal aims to strengthen governance at the grassroots level, ensuring better communication and engagement between local authorities and communities.

Additionally, the amendment seeks to elevate the position of the Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA) to the rank of a Permanent Secretary within the state’s public service.

The bill states:

“The office of the HOLGA shall be equivalent to the office of a Permanent Secretary of the State Public Service and shall enjoy all rights and privileges of the Permanent Secretary, including pensions.”

Furthermore, appointments to the HOLGA position must be made exclusively from within the local government service in the state.

Legislative Progress

The bill has successfully passed its first and second readings and has been referred to a joint committee on Local Government Affairs, Judiciary, and Public Accounts for further deliberations and consultations with stakeholders.

Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, emphasized the importance of the amendment in improving local government administration and service delivery.