The Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Bassey Edet Otu, has inaugurated a four-day retreat for lawmakers and senior staff of the Gombe State House of Assembly in Calabar. The meeting is taking place at Slessor Hall, Channel View, under the theme “Consolidating Democratic Governance Through Effective Lawmaking.”
Represented by the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem, the Governor praised the Gombe Assembly for selecting Cross River State for the programme, noting that cooperation among states helps strengthen Nigeria’s democratic framework.
He described the retreat as a useful forum for lawmakers and administrative officers to broaden their knowledge of legislative procedure, budget scrutiny, oversight functions, and constituency relations. He added that steady training supports the development of strong and productive parliaments.
The Speaker of the Gombe State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Abubakar Mohammed, said the retreat comes at an important moment as the Assembly prepares for major budget and legislative duties. He noted that the discussions reflect their resolve to improve democratic outcomes through informed and community-focused lawmaking.
The Deputy Speaker, Hon Sadam Bello Sale, and the Majority Leader, Hon Yaerima Ladan Gaule, also spoke on the importance of upgrading legislative skills to ensure that new laws support economic progress, social order, and responsible governance in Gombe State.
The retreat will include technical sessions, expert presentations, peer learning, and practical workshops designed to strengthen the Assembly’s capacity. Over the four days, participants will work with governance experts, policy researchers, and legislative advisers.
Activities continue through the week as Gombe lawmakers examine new methods for producing effective legislation aligned with recognised international standards.
