By Sylvia Okoi,CRS-MOI Officer reporting from Ministry of Local Government Affairs
In a bid to accelerate development and advancement in the Local Government sector, the Ministry of Local Government Affairs and the Local Government Service Commission have agreed to synergize in this regard for the over all good of the citizenry.
The decision was reached recently when the Chairman,Cross River State Local Government Service Commission, Dr. Peter Adigeb paid a courtesy call to the Commissioner, Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Hon. Stella Odey in her office in Calabar.
Welcoming the Local Government Service Commission Chairman, Hon. Odey noted that without the synergy between both MDAs, growth in the Local Government sector would be hindered. In her words” we are willing to synergise with you at all times, you are responsible for service delivery as a Commission while we in the Ministry supervises the projects that are being funded by the Local Government Councils. Altogether,our aim is to ensure that development gets to the grassroots” Hon. Odey stressed the need to instill discipline amongst staff of Local Government Councils while assuring that all issues of concern raised by the Commission would be systematically resolved
Earlier, the Chairman,CRS Local Government Service Commission,Dr. Peter Adigeb in his remarks congratulated the Commissioner on her appointment,emphasizing that the essence of the visit was to introduce members of the Commission to the Commissioner, seek synergy between the Commission and the Ministry and also rub minds on issues that affect the Local Government Service in the State.
Dr. Adigeb pointed out that without the synergy, staff of the Unified Local Government Service cannot function optimally as regards service delivery and appreciated the Commissioner for being instrumental to the release of three (3) months statutory deductions to the Commission,maintaining that this gesture was a sign of positive relationship between both MDAs.
The Commission Chairman further pointed out some issues that the Commission has tackled through the Personnel Audit exercise that was carried out between 2016-2019 in an attempt to stem the tide of some unwholesome conduct of stakeholders.
Some of those issues according to the Chairman were: incidence of ghost workers on the Payroll, Deceased Pensioners on the Payroll, over payment/underpayment/omitted names,amongst others.
Furthermore, Dr. Adigeb stressed the need for stakeholders in both MDAs that constitute the Local Government Service to operate within their mandate.
In attendance were the newly appointed Commissioners of the Commission, Mr. Innocent Egiga, Hon. Asama Ekpenyoung, Hon. Dentane Paul and Mr. Darlington Eyo as well as Management of the Ministry of Local Government Affairs.
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