The member representating Yakurr 1 State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. Cyril Omini, has urged local government councillors to remain steadfast in advocating for the interests of their communities in their legislative roles.
He made this appeal during a presentation at the three-day Capacity-Building and Utilization Workshop for Local Government Legislative Councils, held at Landmark Hotel in Ogoja.
The event, themed “Building Institutions to Deliver Service and Facilitate Sustainable Development in the Local Government Systems,” was organized by the Cross River State Government in collaboration with the Center for Community Policy and Strategic Development (CCPSD).
In his presentation titled “Understanding the Critical Role of Local Government Legislators in Facilitating Sustainable Community Development,” Hon. Omini emphasized the crucial role of local legislators in crafting policies that directly influence the welfare of citizens.
“Local government legislators are the backbone of sustainable development. They possess an intimate understanding of their communities’ needs and are best positioned to drive policies and initiatives that promote growth and sustainability, in line with the ‘People First’ mantra of Governor Senator Prince Bassey Otu,” he stated.
He outlined key areas where councillors can make a substantial impact, including infrastructure development, healthcare, education, and economic empowerment programs. He stressed that effective representation, transparency, and active engagement with constituents are essential for achieving meaningful progress at the local government level.
He further emphasized that councillors and other legislative officials serve as pillars of sustainable development, given their deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities within their localities.
Omini who is Chairman of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, called for stronger collaboration between councillors, local government executives, and development partners to advance policies that improve service delivery. He encouraged councillors to adopt proactive, innovative, and people-centered approaches to law-making.
Additionally, he highlighted the importance of capacity-building programs to equip legislators with the skills needed to fulfill their responsibilities effectively. He urged the state government and development partners to invest in training and retraining initiatives that strengthen grassroots legislative institutions.
In his closing remarks, Hon. Omini commended the CCPSD and the Governor Otu-led administration for organizing the workshop. He expressed hope that the event would lead to actionable strategies to revitalize the local government system in Nigeria and drive much-needed development in rural areas.
The three-day wo
rkshop for Local Government Legislative Councils in the Northern Senatorial District was flagged off on Tuesday by the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, who was represented by the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Sylvester Agabi.
