LG Autonomy: C' River Assembly Deducts 7.5 Percent From 18 Councils FAAC Allocation
Ndifereke BASSEY
Ahead of local autonomy, the Cross River State House of Assembly (CRHA) has okayed the deduction of 7.5 percent from the monthly federal allocation due each of the 18 local government areas of the state.
The deductions will be used to fund tertiary institutions, road maintenance, health, assembly over sight functions and community development.
The deduction is contained in the local government amendment bill 2025 that has gone through the 3rd reading in the state's legislative arm.
The bill on Thursday, January 23, 2025 went through the second reading, the committee stage and was subsequently passed for 3rd reading.
In addition to the 7.5 percent monthly deduction, each of the council area is also to commit one million naira (N1 million) into the purse of Cross River State Reserve Fund.
The bill was sponsored by the majority leader of the assembly, Mr Davies Ita of Abi state constituency.
At the sitting, the bill was laid on the floor of the house and was accepted as a working document after chairman of joint committee on local government, chieftaincy affairs and rural development, Mr Eyo Bassey of Bakassi constituency, presented it.
Bassey,, who said that the state local government law passed in 2007, was first amended in 2008 and further aamended in 2011, noted that, "it has been harmonised for clarity now."
After the committee stage, the lawmakers agreed to the following amendments.
Upgrade of the position of Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA) to the equivalent of Permanent Secretary and increment of the number of statutory appointees of the council chairman to 50.
The amendment also includes the following deductions from the gross monthly allocation of each of the councils:
Monthly deduction of one percent from gross allocation of the councils for House of Assembly oversight functions, 0.5 percent from gross allocation of the councils for the state community and social development agency.
Others are monthly deduction of one percent from gross allocation of the councils for the funding of the University of Cross River State (UNICROS) , 0.5 percent from gross allocation for the office of the state auditor general.
There is also monthly deduction of four percent from gross allocation of the state road maintenance agency and the sum of one million each for the state reserve fund.
