Residents in several local government areas of Cross River State have expressed growing frustration over what they describe as the continued absence of council chairmen from their respective local government headquarters.
The controversy follows claims that a majority of the 18 local government chairmen in the state allegedly reside mainly in Calabar, the state capital, rather than in the councils they were elected to administer.
Many residents who spoke on the issue accused the chairmen of abandoning grassroots governance, arguing that local government administration has gradually become disconnected from the people at the rural level.
According to community members, the alleged absence of the chairmen has contributed to poor monitoring of projects, slow response to local challenges, and weak engagement with residents across several communities.
Some residents claimed that many council chairmen only return to their local government areas during official ceremonies, political meetings, or public events, while day-to-day administration is allegedly left in the hands of aides and appointees.
The development has sparked debates across political and civic circles in the state, with critics insisting that local government leadership was designed to bring governance closer to the people, especially in rural communities struggling with infrastructure and economic challenges.
Several residents also questioned how local government chairmen could fully understand the conditions of their people while allegedly operating mostly from the comfort of the state capital.
The issue has further fueled conversations about accountability and grassroots development in Cross River State, with some observers describing the trend as a major setback to effective local governance.
A resident reportedly argued that aside from the chairman of Calabar Municipal, other local government chairmen should ideally maintain stronger physical presence within their councils to ensure closer interaction with the people they serve.
As reactions continue to trail the controversy, many residents are calling for reforms that would strengthen accountability and compel elected local government officials to remain actively present in their communities.
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