Gere Trains LGA Legislative Leaders on Oversight, Good Governance Targets grassroots service delivery

UYO, AKWA IBOM — In a bid to strengthen accountability and improve governance at the grassroots, Gere Consulting Associates Limited has trained House Committee Chairmen and other legislative leaders from local government areas across Nigeria on effective legislative oversight and sectoral governance.

The five-day capacity-building workshop, which held from Monday, September 14 to Friday, September 18, 2026, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, focused on equipping local government legislators with the knowledge and practical leadership skills needed to perform their committee functions more effectively.

The workshop was held under the theme, “Strengthening Legislative Committee Leadership and Sectorial Governance for Effective Service Delivery in Local Government Administration.”

According to the consultant, the programme was specifically designed to enhance the performance of House Committee Chairmen of the Legislative Arms of Local Government Areas in Nigeria, particularly in the areas of committee leadership, oversight and sectoral governance.

Participants included legislative representatives from various local government councils, with councils from Delta State such as Warri North, Ughelli South and Ndokwa East, among others, participating in the programme.

At the local government level, legislative committees are expected to play an important role in scrutinising government activities, monitoring programmes and projects, examining sectoral performance and promoting accountability in the management of public resources.

For residents who depend on local authorities for basic services and community development, the effectiveness of these institutions can have a direct impact on everyday life.

The training therefore placed emphasis on strengthening the capacity of committee chairmen to properly understand their responsibilities, engage with relevant sectors and exercise effective oversight without losing sight of the development needs of their communities.

The organisers said stronger legislative committees could contribute to more transparent decision-making, better monitoring of government programmes and improved accountability in local government administration.

The workshop also examined the relationship between legislative leadership and effective service delivery, highlighting the need for local government legislators to move beyond routine legislative functions and play a more active role in monitoring policies and programmes intended to benefit residents.

Through effective committee work, legislators can scrutinise implementation, identify gaps and raise issues requiring attention, thereby strengthening institutional checks and balances at the grassroots.

The organisers said the objective was not only to improve individual participants' knowledge, but also to strengthen the institutional capacity of local government legislative arms to contribute to responsive and people-oriented governance.

Gere Consulting Associates Limited described the initiative as part of its broader effort to promote institutional capacity, effective legislative administration and improved governance at the local government level.

The programme was held at Rosemohr Gold Hotel, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The five-day engagement also provided participants with an opportunity to exchange experiences and examine practical challenges confronting legislative committees in their respective councils.

The organisers expressed the expectation that participants would return to their councils with improved understanding of committee leadership, oversight and sectoral governance, and apply the knowledge gained to their legislative responsibilities.

The training comes against the backdrop of renewed attention to the importance of effective local government institutions in delivering development closer to the people.

For communities at the grassroots, the organisers noted that strengthening the capacity of those responsible for legislative oversight remains an important part of building institutions capable of promoting accountability, effective resource utilisation and better service delivery.