The Niger Delta Development Commission [NDDC], has begun a two day Local Government Capacity Building Workshop for Council Chairmen, Heads of Personnel Management, Secretaries and Treasures in Cross River State.The workshop, which has its theme as "Understanding the Niger Delta Regional Development Master plan and Its Components, Implementation Strategies and Imperatives", was declared open by the MD/CEO of the NDDC, Mr. Chibuzor Ugwoha.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, the Cross River State Commissioner for Local Government represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Economic matters, Dr. Ndem Ayara described the Master Plan as a road map to sustained socio-economic development of the region if well implemented.
He noted the Local Government Areas as the ultimate beneficiaries for the derivable of the plan and enjoined the council chairmen to partner with the Commission in other to derive maximum benefits for the plan.
Dr Ayara said that the workshop will further strengthen the capacities of the area councils in understanding the economic roadmap as enunciated by the plan, its budgetary components with a view of adopting same in the preparation of local council budgets to avoid duplication and wastages.
"Strengthening the Local Government Area Councils to partner with the NDDC in the implementation of the Master Plan is a welcome development" he said.
He advised the NDDC to further strengthen and collaborate with the area councils in the monitoring of NDDC projects in their areas to ensure that contractors adopt best practices in project execution and delivery.
"The Local Government Areas should know who is coming to undertake development projects in the area, how much the project cost and how much the contractors are paid, this way the area councils can report back to the NDDC on the status of the projects in their domain", he advised.
In his opening remarks the MD/CEO represented by the Cross River State co-ordinate, Mr. Offiong Ephraim said the commission recognizes the local government area as veritable partners for development at the community level and was desirous to seek further collaboration and partnership with them in other to deliver meaningful infrastructural development in the grassroots.
The MD/CEO noted that the workshop was designed to empower the participants acquire a better understanding of the regional development Master Plan, ensure good governance and strategic planning at the grass root as well as enable the local government officials adopt best practices In their accounting and budgetary procedures.
"I believe that this workshop will enhance your abilities in taking partnering opportunities as well as to enable you acquire greater capacity building initiatives" he said.
Mr. Ugwoha expressed hope that at the end of the workshop key officials of the area councils would cascade the knowledge gained to other elected officials and staff of their respective local government areas.
Responding on behalf of the council chairmen, Barrister Legor Idagbo chairman of Bekwarra Local Government Area said the workshop would further create the much needed synergy and collaboration between the NDDC and the area councils in the region from project conception stage to completion.
He described the workshop as long awaited and assured the willingness of the area councils to work with the NDDC for the overall benefit of the people.
Papers were presented on good governance, strategic planning, budgeting and partnership as well as the implementation strategies of the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan.
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