Otu Meets Cross River LG Chairmen, Prioritises Security, Citizens’ Welfare and Year-End Assessment
Credit: CrossRiverWatch
Governor Reaffirms People-First Mandate as Year Winds Down
Governor Bassey Otu has convened a strategic meeting with the Chairmen of the 18 Local Government Councils of Cross River State, in what Akahi News learnt was a high-level deliberation centred on security, citizens’ welfare and self-assessment of the administration’s People-First agenda.
The session, held at the State Executive Council Chamber, comes at a crucial time as the year draws to a close and citizens anticipate stronger developmental impact across the wards and communities of the State.
Security Tops the Agenda
Addressing council chairmen, Governor Otu underscored the urgency of tightening security across all LGAs, insisting that no effort must be spared in safeguarding lives and property.
“The number one item on the agenda of this meeting is the security of our local government councils,” he stressed. He further noted that vigilance and proactiveness were indispensable as the festive period approaches, a time when security challenges traditionally spike.
According to the Governor, the meeting was strictly streamlined to core issues of security, expanded welfare interventions, and honest evaluation of governance efforts so far — themes Akahi News gathered have been recurring priorities of the People-First administration.
Citizens’ Welfare: Ensuring Impact Across Communities
Governor Otu emphasised that beyond the urban centres, every ward must feel the impact of government initiatives. He maintained that it was no longer acceptable for interventions to be concentrated only in the city centres while rural communities lag behind.
“There is a need for every one of our citizens to feel the impact and break out of the middle of the situation, not just in the city centres but also in all the wards across the state,” he noted.
Journalists who interacted with officials after the meeting told Akahi News that improved social support programmes, grassroots projects, and citizens’ empowerment were extensively discussed.
Local Government Chairmen React
Speaking with newsmen after the closed-door session, Chairman of the Forum of Local Government Chairmen, Hon. Yibala Inyang, described Governor Otu as a “concerned and caring leader” who has made consistent engagement with local councils a hallmark of his governance style.
Although he refrained from divulging operational security strategies — a decision he insisted was necessary for safety — Inyang assured that the modalities reached would be implemented immediately across all LGAs.
On welfare delivery, Inyang revealed that the councils were still gathering additional data and indices to guide well-targeted interventions. Akahi News gathered that these measures are expected to be rolled out before the end of the year.
Self-Assessment: Councils Confident of Progress
When quizzed on the administration’s self-assessment, Inyang stated that the councils were firmly on the right trajectory. He added that the governor’s frequent interactions with local government chairmen were proof of a leadership committed to listening, evaluating and adjusting policies to reflect citizens’ expectations.
According to him, the People-First philosophy is not merely a slogan but a working template guiding every policy decision of the Otu administration — a sentiment also reflected in insights obtained by journalists and confirmed by Akahi News.
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By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News
Joseph Iyaji is a journalist, educator, and founder of Akahi G. International, Akahi Tutors, and Akahi News. Read more about him here.
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