The bill that extends the tenure of local government chairmen and councillors from three to four years, aligning their terms with those of state governors and the president has been signed into law by Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu into law the amended Cross River Electoral Law. .
The amended law, passed by the Cross River State House of Assembly, is in compliance with a Supreme Court ruling mandating local government autonomy across the country. The ruling emphasized that all states must ensure their local governments are led by elected officials, in accordance with the Nigerian Constitution.
Governor Otu, while signing the law, expressed his appreciation for the swift actions of both the State House of Assembly and the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC). He emphasized the critical role of local government in governance, stating, “Local government is very important. That is the government that is closer to the people than any other government that we have in the Federation.” He further highlighted that the amended law will empower local governments to deliver the dividends of democracy to those who need it most, ensuring that governance reaches every corner of the state.
The extension of the tenure from three to four years is seen as a pivotal move to bring local government administration in line with the state and federal tiers of government. This decision addresses a long-standing gap in the tenure system, making it more uniform across the country. The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, hailed the amendment as a significant step forward in Cross River State’s governance. He also noted that Cross River had not had substantive local government chairmen in recent years, making this reform timely and necessary.
Hon. Ayambem highlighted that the amendment is part of a broader effort to strengthen local governance and ensure full compliance with constitutional provisions. He affirmed that the state government is committed to conducting local government elections before the end of 2024, thereby ensuring the third tier of government is fully operational.
This new law is expected to have a lasting impact on local governance in Cross River State, providing stability and allowing for more robust development programs at the grassroots level.
