Cross River State Govt Strengthens Local Government Autonomy Through Staff Training Initiative

The Acting Governor of Cross River State, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Governor Bassey Otu-led administration to ensuring the effective functioning of the local government system in compliance with legal provisions.

Speaking on Monday at the opening of a two-day induction and training workshop for Principal Officers, Heads of Departments, and newly employed staff of the Unified Local Government Service, Odey emphasized that the state is set to experience, for the first time, true local government autonomy.

Reiterating the administration’s stance on local government autonomy, Odey stated: “His Excellency, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu, fully supports local government autonomy. During my tenure in the House of Assembly, I voted twice in favor of it because I firmly believe that granting autonomy to local governments as the third tier of government will drive grassroots development.”

He urged participants to maximize the training opportunity by learning from experienced facilitators. He also encouraged senior employees to mentor the newly recruited staff, stressing that the Otu administration remains dedicated to workers’ welfare, capacity development, and the repositioning of the public service.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Darlington Eyo, highlighted that the training aims to equip the new workforce with essential skills, knowledge, and values to enhance their performance as civil servants.

Eyo commended Governor Otu and his deputy, Rt. Hon. Odey for their unwavering commitment to capacity building and career development, noting that despite the state’s financial constraints, significant strides have been made in human capital development.

He further stated that the training, currently taking place in Calabar, had previously 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 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 Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Mr Ekpenyong Esuabanga, as well as Permanent Secretaries, Directors, and Heads of Departments.