Metrics, and standard of measurements clearly defines the infrastructure revolution, in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State, transforming the economic landscape, fortifying rural resilience and attracting new investments for sustainable growth.
These development initiative drives growth, improve quality of life and foster sustainable economic development centered on productivity and serves as catalyst for investment change.
Speaking to newsmen , to mark his one year in office, the Chairman of Yakurr Local Government, Hon. Yibala Inyang said he was working beyond the ballot boxes and translating electoral victory into real time infrastructural development in all sectors of the economy.
He noted that the provision of basic rural infrastructure to rural communities, workers welfare and security, fundamentally shapes the future of sustained economic growth and development of the council.
Inyang took metrics of his administrative journey of impact saying ” On November 4, 2024, the people of yakurr local government entrusted me with the sacred responsibility of leadership, I made a promise to serve with sincerity, lead with empathy and to bring government closer to the people “.
Continuing, he outlined the council’s infrastructure development index to include quantifiable construction of multiple culver’s and drainages across all council wards, the re-instatement of failed embankments of urban roads, rehabilitation and pavements of designated commercial roads, including re-enforcement of road shoulders.
He said, the Council initiated the Micro, Small Enterprises, under it’s empowerment programme to build the capacity of youths in solar installation, sawing machines, ICT trading shops and hair machines for sustainable economic self reliance.
According to the Chairman, the council made emergency intervention in the Township Stadium and the construction of a pavilion to encourage sports, the renovation of the council secretariate and providing water sanitation, including a cash empowerment of a 100 million naira to vulnerable households.
” Top priority is also given to critical sectors like education where hundreds of students of yakurr ancestry are awarded scholarship to study in Tertiary institutions, building classroom blocks and providing instructional and teaching materials for learning, building medical health centers and equipping them, providing electricity transformers and solar street lights, improved agricultural seeds and farm implements, provide water bore-holes and associated amenities “.
Good governance is typically an effective participation, the rule of law, transparency, responsiveness and efficiency, equity and inclusiveness, consensus orientation and accountability.
This process of openness in government is a normative ideal that outlines how public institutions should conduct public affairs, and manage public resources, to guarantee the rights of the people and ensure equitable distribution of scarce resources available at the time.
Yakurr local government has enormous deposits of natural resources like precious stones, rubber and oil palm estates that serves as major raw materials for manufacturing and industrialization.
A few months ago, over a 100 of foreign illegal miners from Niger, Chad and Mali were deported from Agoi Mbami, a community with mining cites in the local government. The evacuation was conducted by relevant authorities, like the State government, the Nigerian Army, the Police in collaboration with the local government authority.
Over the years, the local government administration has been in comatose, there has always been a complete laxity of commitment and patriotism to develop rural infrastructure and halt urban migration.
The provision of basic infrastructure in rural areas is a key strategy to significantly reduce urban migration. Migration is often driven by a lack of basic amenities, economic opportunities, and the absence of quality social services in rural areas; addressing these factors can make rural life more attractive and sustainable.
Poor governance inevitably leads to the neglect of the people by failing to provide essential services, manage resources effectively, and maintain accountability. This creates a cycle of poverty, inequality, and instability, as leaders often prioritizes personal gain over the well-being of citizens.Â
The failure to implement sound economic policies and attract investment leads to high unemployment, a rising cost of living, and widespread poverty, trapping citizens in a cycle of deprivation. There is a coordinated absence of leadership accountability to the people, especially when the electoral process is compromised, lacks transparency and openness, making the political system to erode, and further widen the gap between the government and the governed.
The 1976 reforms officially established local government as the third tier of government, giving it a defined framework and roles separate from state governments.
In essence, the third tier ensures that governance reaches the lowest levels, fostering participation and efficient service delivery, making it vital for democratic development.
In the governance structure, local governments are often seen as the closest link between government and its citizens, acting as the primary interface for essential public services. Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) guarantees the existence of the local government. It prescribes the structure, composition, finance and functions of local government councils.
Going by the functions of the local government set out in the fourth schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), it becomes evident that the local government councils were typically created to be responsive, accountable and serve as engines of economic growth and social development. To examine how the various functions of the local government contribute to economic growth at the grassroots and national levels, each provision will be analysed in the context of local government financial autonomy.
Constitution underscores the role of local governments in contributing to economic development within their jurisdictions. Local governments are tasked with making recommendations to the State Commission on Economic Planning regarding the state’s economic growth, particularly in areas where the council and the state intersect. This responsibility necessitates local governments having the financial capacity to contribute meaningfully to such discussions and initiatives as they are positioned to understand better local needs and priorities, such as investing in infrastructure projects, supporting local businesses, and promoting employment opportunities tailored to local conditions. This can lead to effective and responsive economic planning, ultimately contributing to overall economic growth.
Broken promises of political leaders involve the widespread failure of accountability and openness, leading to eroded public trust, and often stem from a disconnect between pre-election rhetoric and post-election reality, focusing on personal gain, political expediency, or inability to govern effectively, resulting in poor service delivery, increased insecurity, and corruption. These unfulfilled pledges range from infrastructure (roads, power) and economic promises (wage increases, pensions) to social issues, leaving citizens feeling betrayed and highlighting a gap in accountability and commitment to real needs.Â
Yakurr local government therefore has become incressingly anchored on local content development, with the rubber plantations,, oil palm estates and precious stones in formal mining activities in Agoi Mbani.
However, there are deliberate policy trust to promote industrialization, according to the council Chairman, Hon. Yibala Inyang has secured partnership on Direct Foreign Investment DFI, to create a productive sector that promotes job opportunities and widespread investments.
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