Leaders of Local Government Legislative Councils in Cross River State have pledged to apply the knowledge gained at a national legislative conference to strengthen representation, improve oversight and promote effective grassroots governance, following Governor Bassey Otu’s support for their participation.
The leaders gave the assurance at the 2026 National Conference of Leaders of Local Government Legislative Councils in Nigeria, held from October 13 to 15 in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, under the theme, “Legislative Leadership and Governance Beyond Law-Making in Democracy.”
Speaking to newsmen after the conference, Leader of the Cross River Leaders Forum and Leader of Obudu Legislative Council, Hon. Eneji Sam Ashibi, thanked Governor Otu for providing the necessary support for their participation, noting that the conference had broadened their understanding of legislative leadership and governance.
Ashibi said the knowledge acquired would help them discharge their responsibilities more effectively and contribute to improved local government administration in Cross River State and Nigeria at large.
“We thank Governor Bassey Otu for the necessary support to attend this conference. It has expanded our legislative horizon and equipped us to better discharge our responsibilities for the betterment of local government administration in Cross River State and Nigeria at large,” he said.
He explained that participants would share the knowledge gained with their colleagues and local government chairmen to strengthen cooperation and improve the execution of projects aimed at addressing the needs of their respective communities.
The legislative leader also commended the cordial relationship between councillors and local government chairmen in Cross River State, describing mutual understanding and cooperation as important to effective administration at the grassroots.
“We have very wonderful chairmen who listen to us, and we have a very good relationship with our chairmen, especially my own chairman, Hon. (Dr.) Peter Undiandeye,” Ashibi stated.
He added that the positive working relationship had created room for engagement on development projects and expressed confidence that the conference would provide further lessons for strengthening collaboration between the legislative and executive arms of local government councils.
Ashibi stressed that councillors must remain committed to effective representation by understanding the needs of their constituents, communicating government policies and ensuring that the concerns of the people receive appropriate attention.
He said the experience gained at the conference would help legislative leaders improve their engagement with the people they represent and communicate government programmes more effectively, enabling residents to better understand policies and projects intended to improve their welfare.
The conference’s focus on legislative leadership beyond law-making highlighted the responsibilities of local government legislators in representation, oversight, accountability and collaboration, which are essential to responsive governance and development at the grassroots.
By Kingsley Agim
