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.
