Three years into Governor Bassey Otu’s term, Cross River State is implementing significant changes to transform local governments into the primary catalysts for grassroots progress. Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Chief Victor Idem, recently discussed the administration’s efforts to enhance council operations, including a mandate requiring chairmen to live within their jurisdictions.
Addressing the challenge of leadership, Commissioner Idem noted that many council heads lacked prior administrative experience. To counter this, the ministry has focused on capacity building, workshops, and orientation to ensure leaders prioritize solving community problems over mere office management. The state is now constructing housing in all eighteen local government headquarters to ensure officials reside where they work, ending the trend of remote governance from Calabar.
Regarding developmental projects, the ministry actively monitors council initiatives ranging from road maintenance and agricultural support to youth empowerment. Idem emphasized that projects are tailored to the unique needs of each locality. He also addressed the recent controversy surrounding a corrupted recruitment process, where over 8,000 people were improperly added to a 500-person quota. Although the government dismissed those responsible, Governor Otu retained 3,000 workers as an act of compassion. Idem insisted that those protesting unpaid salaries from the irregular process lack a legal basis, maintaining that the administration remains committed to transparency and merit-based employment.
