The Governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu has presented a budget estimate of N780.59 billion 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 on Tuesday in Calabar, Otu said he approached the exercise ‘with a profound sense of duty, obligation, and determination to the development of our dear state’.
He described the annual budget presentation as more than a bureaucratic ritual, calling it ‘a sacred social contract between government and the governed — a public declaration of collective intent to enhance the well-being of our people’.
Unveiling his 2026 fiscal vision, the governor said the budget was the product of ‘wide-ranging consultations with civil society, private sector players, NGOs, and the general public’, adding that the state would henceforth measure progress through the Human Development Index rather than Gross Domestic Product.
‘We will judge progress by how much better our people live, learn, and thrive. Our focus in 2026 will be to expand access to education, healthcare, and electricity for rural entrepreneurs’, Otu said.
He disclosed plans to operationalise the Cross River Social Investment Programme, a non-political, multi-sectoral framework designed to empower the elderly, women, youth, and vulnerable groups.
The N780.59 billion proposed budget represents a 17 per cent increase over the 2025 figure.
Of the total, N519.6 billion (67 per cent) is earmarked for capital expenditure, while N260.96 billion (33 per cent) is for recurrent spending.
According to the governor, the sectoral allocation includes N421 billion for the economic sector, N163 billion for social services, N164 billion for general administration, N28 billion for law and justice, and N3.6 billion for regional development.
‘This budget is designed to strengthen our revenue base, drive human capital development, and secure a prosperous, peaceful, and resilient Cross River State’, Otu said.
Reflecting on the 2025 fiscal performance, the governor noted that the Budget of Sustainable Growth was revised from N538 billion to N642 billion following improved revenue inflows and prudent resource management.
He emphasised his administration’s adherence to due process, stating that no extra funds were spent without legislative appropriation.
The supplementary budget, he explained, became necessary to address urgent road repairs, rural electrification, and counterpart funding for key national and international projects.
He cited the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Initiative as one such intervention, describing it as crucial in combating preventable deaths among mothers and infants.
Otu described the 2025 budget performance as ‘one of the best in the country’, highlighting major road projects such as the Adiabo–Ikoneto Road, the dualisation of Esuk Utan–Depot Road, and the Yahe–Ebo–Wanakom–Wanikade corridor as evidence of infrastructure-driven growth.
‘Our budget is performing optimally. Cross River ranked number one nationwide in routine immunisation coverage with 95 per cent — a clear proof that our People First agenda is working’, he said.
The governor also pointed to gains in the power and health sectors, noting that the state had ‘lit up cities with solar-powered streetlights and energised rural communities through solar mini-grids’.
He added that health facilities across the three senatorial districts had been renovated and equipped, while the new General Hospital in Ikom was nearing completion. ‘Every School of Nursing in Cross River has now met accreditation standards’, he affirmed.
Otu further disclosed that work on the Obudu Passenger and Cargo Airport had reached an advanced stage, while pre-construction negotiations for the Bakassi Deep Seaport were ongoing. ‘We are not just providing infrastructure’, he said, ‘we are building the future — restoring Cross River as a maritime and logistics hub in West Africa’.
On administrative reforms, Otu announced that his government had implemented the national minimum wage across all tiers, cleared the first tranche of gratuities for retirees, and commenced payment of the second.
He also revealed that fibre optic connectivity had been extended across ministries, departments, and agencies to enhance service delivery, while land administration had been digitised with the resumed issuance of Certificates of Occupancy.
