To complement the efforts of the present administration in ensuring sustainable development at the grassroots and by extension, harnessing the economic resources of rural communities in Cross River state, a renowned Accountant and Local Government Administration expert, Elder Dr. Ndoma Odey has proposed the creation of 12 additional Local Councils in the state. The creation of 12 new Councils otherwise known as Local Council Development Authorities LCDA, in addition to the existing 18 LGAs shall bring the total number of Local Government Areas in the state to 30, with each state constituency qualified for one. The new LCDAs shall be funded by the state government and shall operate as full-fledged Local Government Areas, pending the consequential Act of the National Assembly.
According to Dr Odey, given the massive population of the state and its expansive landmark, it is difficult for governance and development to penetrate the rural areas with the existing 18 LGA structure, hence the need to further divide the state into Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Authorities to facilitate speedy development at the grassroots. Apart from attracting development to rural areas, creating LCDAs will bring about administrative convenience as well as address the concerns and agitations of many minority groups for a Local Government of their own, thereby reducing the number of conflicts in the state.
Interestingly, Cross River state is not the first or only state clamouring for governance and development to reach its local population. States such as Lagos, Ekiti, and even neighbouring Ebonyi have achieved milestones with this initiative. It is expected that, if implemented, the creation of LCDAs will give room for healthy competition and growth among Council Areas, create employment opportunities for young people, promote urban and infrastructure development as well as resolve the menace of intrastate boundary disputes.
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