Cross River govt enhances LG autonomy with staff training initiative

The Cross River State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening local government autonomy through staff capacity building.

This was highlighted by the Acting Governor, Peter Odey, on Wednesday during the opening of a two-day induction and training workshop in Calabar.

Addressing Principal Officers, Heads of Departments, and newly recruited staff of the Unified Local Government Service, Odey stressed that, under the leadership of Governor Bassey Otu, the state is set to witness genuine local government autonomy for the first time.

“His Excellency, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu, fully supports local government autonomy. During my tenure in the House of Assembly, I voted twice in favour of it because I firmly believe that empowering local governments as the third tier of government will drive grassroots development,” Odey stated.

He urged participants to take full advantage of the training, learn from seasoned facilitators, and for senior officers to mentor new employees.

He reaffirmed the administration’s dedication to workers’ welfare, capacity development, and the repositioning of the public service.

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In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Mr Darlington Eyo, underscored the importance of equipping the new workforce with essential skills and values to enhance service delivery.

He commended Governor Otu and his deputy for their unwavering commitment to capacity building, noting that despite financial constraints, significant progress has been made in human capital development.

Eyo further highlighted that similar training sessions had already been conducted in the Northern and Central Senatorial Districts under the theme “Rejuvenating the Local Government System in Cross River State.”

The event was attended by top government officials, including the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh; Head of Service, Obol Dr. Innocent Eteng; Commissioner for Establishment, Training, and Pension, Mrs. Lawrencia Ita; and the Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Mr. Ekpenyong Esuabanga, alongside other senior officials.