Odey charges Calabar South HOLGA and heads of department on effective project delivery.

Commissioner For Local Government Affairs and member of management team on inspecting the environment of Calabar South Secretariat

ON THE SPOT ASSESSMENT OF CALABAR SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT: ODEY CHARGES HOLGA AND STAFF ON EFFECTIVE PROJECT DELIVERY.

By Adoga Michael Oyi

It is no longer news that, the Hon Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Hon Mrs Stella Oreme Odey and her management staff are embarking on 'on the spot assessment' of Local Government councils in Cross River state.

The Honorable Commissioner and her team arrived Calabar South LG Secretariat to the amazement of the staff of the council. Speaking with Calabar South Head of administration and heads of departments, Odey said, she considered it imperative to visit the LG and see things for herself, and to act accordingly.

She said, His Excellency, Gov. Ben Ayade is a humane leader, and has asked them to embark on programmes that will benefit Cross Riverians and none Cross Riverians resident in Cross River State, especially those at the local level. "What ever projects Calabar South is embarking should be grassroot oriented projects. We must render selfless services to the downtrodden".

She enjoined that, effective services can be rendered if the servicom unit in the LG is effectively functional.

The HOLGA, Mr. Bassey Etim thanked the Honorable Commissioner and her team for the visit. He briefed that, Calabar South as a rural setting has received much attention from the Governor. He said, the Governor has tried in the electrification of Calabar South but the Council still needs improvement in electricity and water.

Commissioner for local government affairs, Hon Mrs Stella Oreme Odey

Mr. Bassey lamented that, the LG is becoming smaller by the day as land owners have encroached into the council. According to him, the LG has taken upon themselves to fence the Council to avoid further encroachment. "The council doesn't have staff quarters due to lack of space in the Secretariat".

Speaking further, the HOLGA lamented that, the revenue generation of the LG has been hijacked by some Calabar South politicians, making things difficult for the LG to execute projects due to lack of funds. He said, there's money in all streets in Calabar South but the politicians has hijacked everything. He commended that, the presence of the commissioner and her team in the Secretariat barely one month of appointment, suggests that it is no longer business as usual. He also commended His Excellency, Prof Ben Ayade for prompt payment of salary.

The permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Dr. Mrs. Irene Aniyom, advised the HOLGA to develop percentage formula between the LG and the revenue contractors, she suggested 60:40 percentage, in order to synergized with the revenue contractors.

Regarding land grabbing by landlords within the Secretariat, the commissioner instructed that, proper survey be made and documented so as to keep land grabbers away.

On revenue generation, she also advised that, Calabar South should collate all businesses operational in the LG into a data base the way Calabar Municipal is doing, in that way they could keep track of the IGR base. She further stated that, the LG must find a way to keep their revenue base away from the politicians. "Senator Prof Ben Ayade is a deep thinker, he thinks outside the box, so as his followers we must do same". She also admonished that, the LG should think of building conveniences in the markets which could be as one of the revenue subheads.

Hon Odey further advised that, the LG should partner Calabar Urban development Authority CUDA, in using their mobile toilets to generate revenue.

Mrs Odey directed the head of education department to build creche in watt market. According to her, revenue could as well be generated from there.

In conclusion, the Commissioner promised to visit back as soon as possible to inspect the creche and the survey plan for the Secretariat, as well as other projects.

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