Local government chairmen in Cross River State will henceforth spend four year in office.
This forms part of the amended Cross River Electoral Law passed by the State House of Assembly and already assented to by the Governor, Bassey Otu.
The amendment follows the Supreme Court’s verdict granting autonomy to the local government and ensuring that local administrations are headed by elected officials in accordance with the constitution.
Signing the amended Law, Governor Otu said: “Local government is very important. That is the government that is closer to the people than any other government that we have in the federation.
“We want this particular segment of our government to be active so that the dividends of democracy will trickle right down to the downtrodden and the people who need it most,”
Elvert Ayambem, Speaker of the House of Assembly said what they did with the law is in line with the Supreme Court judgment.
He added that one of the most cardinal points tackled in the amended Law is the review of the tenure of office of chairmen and councillors from three to four years on par with their elected officials at the state and federal levels.
He reiterated the State Government’s stance on holding local government elections before the end of the year 2024.
