The Cross River State House of Assembly has passed a bill mandating the 18 councils in the state to make a monthly deduction of one percent from their gross allocation for House of Assembly oversight functions.
This is part of the Local Government Amendment Bill 2025.
The bill also directs a 0.5 percent deduction for the State Community and Social Development Agency, another one percent for UNICROSS, and 0.5 percent for the State Auditor General’s office.
Councils will also contribute N1 million each to the Cross River State Reserve Fund and 4 percent to the Road Maintenance Agency.
However, this bill contradicts the Supreme Court ruling that granted local governments full autonomy.
Additionally, the bill grants Heads of Local Government Administration the status of Permanent Secretaries like their counterparts in the State Civil Service as a reward for hard work.
The bill was passed after deliberating on the report of its Joint Committee on Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Judiciary, Public Service Matters, Public Petitions and Conflict Resolution as well as Public Accounts.
THAT’S ILL OF THE STATE ASSEMBLY ACTING AND DEROGATORY TO THE SUPREME COURT VERDICT. THOUGH THE GOVERNOR IS STILL IN CHARGE OF THE LOCAL COUNCILS HAS NOT GIVEN THE STATE HOUSE THE EXPRESS PREROGATIVE RIGHT TO THE COUNCIL FUNDS.NOTWITHSTANDING , THE LGA COUNCILS CAN RETURN APPEAL TO SET ASIDE THE LEGISLATIVE DECISION WHILE AWAITING THE FINAL AND WHITE PAPER ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION. ONCE THE CONSTITUTION IS AMENDED,ALL LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS SHOULD BE DISSOLVED AND THE STATUTORY ORGAN ( INEC ) SHOULD CONDUCT ELECTION IN THE 774 COUNCIL AT THE SAME TIME. THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS ARE STILL AT THE MERCY AND LORD OVER BY THE STATE FOR NOW UNAVOIDABLY,THESE ARBITRARY DECISIONS OVER THEM WILL BE ON THE CONTINUUM.