The Executive Secretary of the Center for Community Policy and Strategic Development (CCPSD), Rt. Hon. John Gaul Lebo, has described Local Government Councillors as the bedrock of democracy, stressing their importance in grassroots governance and policy implementation.
Speaking at the opening of the Capacity Building and Utilization Training for Local Government Legislative Officials from the Central Senatorial District, themed “Building Institutions to Deliver Service and Facilitate Sustainable Development in the Local Government Systems,” held at Hotel 45 in Ikom, Rt. Hon. Lebo emphasized that the success of any democratic administration hinges on the effectiveness of local government councillors.
He identified the lack of institutional mechanisms as a major challenge facing local government legislatures, noting that without robust structures and well-trained officials, achieving effective governance at the grassroots level remains a significant hurdle.
“Councillors are the closest to the people, they listen to their concerns, understand their needs, and are best positioned to shape policies that directly impact their communities. A strong democracy relies on well-trained and dedicated local legislators,” he stated.
Rt. Hon. Lebo emphasized that when local government councillors are adequately trained, retrained, and equipped with the right tools, they can make informed decisions, develop impactful policies, and effectively represent their constituents. This, he explained, is the rationale behind the capacity-building workshop organized by CCPSD in collaboration with the Cross River State government. The workshop aims to equip councillors and legislative staff with skills in legislative drafting, budgetary oversight, stakeholder engagement, and ethical governance, all geared toward strengthening democracy at the local government level.
In their goodwill messages, the Deputy Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. Sylvester Agabi, and the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Chief Victor Felix Idem, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, praised CCPSD for initiating the training program. They highlighted that its in line with the Governor Otu-led administration’s commitment to building strong institutional frameworks and enhancing the functionality of the local government system in the state.
The first day of the training featured insightful presentations by governance experts, who provided participants with practical knowledge on effective legislative procedures, public accountability, legislative career development, and the administration of the local government system in Nigeria, as well as strategies for engaging critical stakeholders.
As part of CCPSD’s vision, it has already conducted similar capacity-building programs for councillors and local government legislative officials in the Northern Senatorial District and arrangements are concluded to hold similar training for Councilors in the Southern Senatorial District, as well as to Council Chairmen and the Vice Chairmen across the state.
