Gov Otu Presents ₦780.6bn “Budget of Inclusive Growth” to Cross River Assembly

By David Odama

Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, on Tuesday presented a ₦780.59 billion budget for the 2026 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly, describing it as a “Budget of Inclusive Growth” aimed at consolidating the gains of his administration’s People First philosophy.

Presenting the Appropriation Bill before lawmakers in Calabar, Governor Otu said he approached the task with a profound sense of duty and determination towards the state’s development. He emphasized that the annual budget presentation was not just a bureaucratic formality but a “sacred social contract between government and the governed — a declaration of collective intent to improve the lives of the people.”

Unveiling his 2026 fiscal vision, Otu explained that the budget was shaped through extensive consultations with civil society groups, private sector stakeholders, NGOs, and citizens. He stated that his administration would henceforth measure progress using the Human Development Index (HDI) rather than Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“We will assess growth by how much better our people live, learn, and thrive,” the governor said, pledging expanded access to education, healthcare, and electricity for rural entrepreneurs. He added that the 2026 focus would be on human development and social protection, highlighting plans to operationalize the Cross River Social Investment Programme (CRSIP) — a non-political initiative to empower women, youth, the elderly, and vulnerable groups.

The governor revealed that the ₦780.59 billion proposal represents a 17 percent increase over the 2025 budget, with ₦519.6 billion (67%) allocated for capital projects and ₦260.96 billion (33%) for recurrent expenditure.

According to the sectoral breakdown, ₦421 billion is earmarked for the economic sector, ₦163 billion for social services, ₦164 billion for general administration, ₦28 billion for law and justice, and ₦3.6 billion for regional development. “This budget,” Otu noted, “is designed to strengthen our revenue base, promote human capital development, and build a prosperous, peaceful, and resilient Cross River State.”

Reflecting on the 2025 fiscal year, Otu said the “Budget of Sustainable Growth” was revised from ₦538 billion to ₦642 billion, following improved revenue inflows and prudent fiscal management. He reaffirmed his administration’s strict adherence to due process, stating, “We cannot spend an extra kobo without the legal instrument of appropriation.”

He explained that the supplementary budget was necessitated by urgent road repairs, rural electrification, and counterpart funding for national and international projects. “We also launched the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Initiative to prevent avoidable deaths among mothers and infants — a project that demanded immediate intervention,” Otu said.

The governor highlighted key achievements in power and healthcare, noting that cities across the state had been illuminated with solar-powered streetlights, while rural communities benefited from mini-grid projects. He added that health facilities in all three senatorial districts had been renovated and equipped, with the new General Hospital in Ikom nearing completion. “Every School of Nursing in Cross River has now secured full accreditation,” he affirmed.

Governor Otu also announced that construction work on the Obudu Passenger and Cargo Airport had reached an advanced stage, while discussions for the Bakassi Deep Seaport were ongoing. “We are not just building infrastructure,” he concluded, “we are building the future — restoring Cross River as a maritime and logistics hub in West Africa.”