The Cross River State Government under the leadership of Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade has charged local government administrators to prioritize the need of the common man in the rural area.
The Honorable Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Hon Mrs Stella Oreme Odey said this while on a working visit to Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Welcoming the Honorable Commissioner to Akamkpa Local Government Area, the Head of Local Government Administration, HOLGA, Mr Augustine Ngaji applauded Hon Stella Odey for the achievement already recorded in just 2 months in office.
Mr Ngaji said, though Akamkpa is bless with natural resources but the LG is still face with serious security challenges. “high taxations, bad roads especially the Odukpani – Itu road made the atmosphere for the business of construction/mining unconducive hence their relocation to Ebonyi state. We are doing our best with the resources at our disposal. When I came, the council was lacking many things including Tranditional Rulers Council hall, but we are currently building TRC hall for the traditional rulers, which I will take you and your team round for inspection. We are currently constructing some community roads and several other projects completed and some ongoing. We’re doing our best”, Mr. Ngaji said.
Hon Stella Odey applauded the HOLGA for the giant strides but sued for projects that will have direct impact on the rural dwellers. “Sen. Prof Ben Ayade has directed all Local Government Areas in Cross River State to prioritize the need of the rural dwellers. His Excellency being a man of the people is doing so much with the meager resources at his disposal to alleviate poverty and transform Cross River State to an industrialization hub for the betterment of Cross Riverians”.
Hon Odey urges various HODs to collaborate with HOLGA in proffering meaningful ideas that could help the people. She emphasized that, projects can be executed if revenue is generated and vice versa. She however urged the HOLGA and HODs to think of other alternative means of generating revenue because Akamkpa Local Government won’t stop to exist because the mining companies are relocating. Nevertheless, Hon Odey enjoined that His Excellency as a people’s person is ready to help in any way possible.
Furthermore, Hon Odey bemoan the monthly allocation His Excellency Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade receives every month; “His Excellency is not folding his arms. He is working tirelessly in making sure every Cross Riverians goes to bed happy. Even with the meager allocation from the federal government, His Excellency is still embarking on huge projects and still paying salaries as at when due. This is because he is thinking outside the box and we have no choice than to think out of the box in making sure the downtrodden are cared for in line with Prof Ben Ayade’s directive”.
Thereafter, the Honorable Commissioner and her team inspected facilities in the council including the ongoing TRC hall project amongst other projects.
