Abia State Deputy Governor, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, has advocated mandatory legislative orientation and capacity-building programmes for all newly elected local government legislators, saying knowledgeable lawmakers are essential to effective grassroots governance and quality legislation.

Emetu made the call on Friday while declaring open a one-day Capacity Building Seminar for Local Government Legislators organised by the Abia State Law Reform and Review Commission in collaboration with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant (Legal) to the Governor, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

The seminar, themed "Strengthening Local Government Legislative Capacity for Effective Grassroots Governance in Abia State," brought together councillors and legislative officials from the state's 17 local government areas.

Representing Governor Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, the Deputy Governor said the ongoing review and documentation of local government bye-laws had exposed the need to strengthen legislative institutions through continuous training and professional development.

He described legislation as the bedrock of democracy, noting that local government legislative councils play a critical role in promoting accountability, justice, and sustainable grassroots development.

Emetu urged the councillors to enact people-centred bye-laws that protect vulnerable groups, encourage economic growth, maintain public order, and address the unique needs of their communities.

He further proposed that every newly inaugurated local government legislative council in Abia State should undergo a structured legislative orientation and capacity-building programme within its first quarter in office.

The proposal received unanimous approval through a voice vote by participants at the seminar.

Earlier, the Secretary of the Abia State Law Reform and Review Commission, Barr. Dave Okwum Kalu, described the event as the first statewide capacity-building programme specifically organised for local government legislators in Abia State.

He explained that the initiative was inspired by the Commission's ongoing exercise to document bye-laws across the 17 local government areas, which revealed significant gaps in legislative drafting and law-making capacity among councillors.

Barr. Kalu encouraged participants to actively engage in the sessions and adopt a "train-the-trainer" approach by sharing the knowledge acquired with fellow legislators in their respective councils.

Also speaking, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna, SAN, said the seminar reflected Governor Otti's commitment to strengthening institutions through continuous capacity development. He described local government as the foundation of sustainable development and noted that the Governor's emphasis on training informed the approval of the programme.

He also commended the revitalisation of the Abia State Law Reform and Review Commission, saying it has played a significant role in advancing legal reforms across the state.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Legal Matters, Mrs. Nkolika Cleopatra, stressed that properly drafted and legally compliant bye-laws are fundamental to effective local government administration. She urged participants to use the seminar as an opportunity to improve their legislative skills and enhance governance at the grassroots.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, described the seminar as timely and called for similar training programmes to be extended to all councillors across the state's 17 local government areas.

Representing the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, the member representing Ohafia South Constituency, Hon. Kalu Mba Nwoke, said local government remains the closest tier of government to the people and that effective grassroots governance depends on strong, informed, and competent legislative councils.

He observed that many councillors assume office without sufficient knowledge of legislative procedures, public financial management, budget analysis, and oversight responsibilities, often resulting in weak accountability and poorly drafted bye-laws.

According to him, properly trained legislators are better positioned to enact relevant and enforceable laws, carry out effective oversight, ensure budgets reflect the priorities of their communities, promote transparency, and serve as an effective link between government and the people.

He commended Governor Alex Otti for supporting the initiative and called for regular capacity-building programmes to further strengthen local government legislatures across the state.

Delivering the keynote address, former Deputy Governor of Abia State and former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, described strong legislative councils as indispensable to effective grassroots governance.

He noted that inadequate knowledge of legislative procedures, budget analysis, and oversight functions among many councillors weakens law-making and reduces accountability. He therefore urged the state government to sustain regular training programmes for local government legislators.

Presenting a paper titled "The Strategic Role of Local Government Legislators in Advancing Grassroots Governance and Development," constitutional law scholar, Dr. Udo Ugochukwu, encouraged councillors to prioritise people-oriented bye-laws through active community engagement, effective oversight, and responsible representation.

He added that strengthening legislative capacity, ensuring financial autonomy, and sustaining continuous training would improve transparency, enhance service delivery, and deepen democracy at the grassroots.

The seminar also featured technical sessions on the legal framework for local government legislation, legislative drafting, and practical law-making, with participants drawn from all 17 local government areas of Abia State.