Cross River Governor Otu Approves N296 Billion Budget, Prioritizing People-Centric Initiatives

On Friday, Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu officially endorsed the state’s N296.985 billion budget for 2024, aptly named the People First budget…CONTINUE READUING

During the ceremony held in his office, the governor disclosed that the budget comprised N180 billion for capital expenditure and N116 billion for recurrent expenditure.

Notably, this figure surpassed the initially proposed N250 billion submitted to the state House of Assembly for consideration.

Governor Otu clarified that the budget increase, amounting to N96 billion, was prompted by the imperative to provide substantial financial assistance to individuals living with disabilities.

He emphasized that this adjustment wasn’t merely a fiscal decision but a reflection of the state’s commitment to addressing social imbalances affecting this vulnerable demographic.

“The augmented budget allocation for this community is not just a necessity but a moral imperative to eliminate social disparities among special demographics.

They constitute a vulnerable group, and this increase aims to improve their access to healthcare, assistive technologies, education, and employment opportunities tailored to their abilities. It is not only a financial choice but a declaration of our societal values,” he stated.

Furthermore, the governor highlighted the expanded budgetary provisions for gratuity payments, debt services, counterpart funds, nutrition activities, social protection, climate change initiatives, and a budget responsive to gender-related concerns.