OTU PRESENTS ₦780BN “BUDGET OF INCLUSIVE GROWTH” TO ASSEMBLY
✓ Targets Human Development, Social Investment, and Expanded Access to Education and Healthcare
By Amawu, Cletus Albert Amawu.
Calabar – The Governor of Cross River State, Senator (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu, on Tuesday presented a ₦780.59 billion budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly, christened the “Budget of Inclusive Growth.”
Governor Otu, during his presentation at the Assembly Chamber in Calabar, said the new budget is crafted to consolidate on the gains of his administration’s People First philosophy and to ensure that the dividends of governance are equitably distributed across all sectors of society.
“I approached this task with a profound sense of duty and determination towards the continued development of our dear state,” the governor stated. “This annual ritual goes beyond figures, it is a sacred social contract between government and the governed, a declaration of intent to improve the well-being of our people.”
Human Development, Not GDP, to Define Progress
Unveiling his fiscal vision, Governor Otu announced a paradigm shift in assessing growth, from Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to the Human Development Index (HDI), stressing that the true measure of progress lies in how much better citizens live, learn, and thrive.
“We will now judge development by how much better our people live, learn, and prosper,” Otu declared. “The impact of governance must be felt in the lives of our people.”
The governor said the 2026 budget emerged from broad-based consultations with civil society groups, private sector actors, development partners, and the general public. It focuses on enhancing access to education, healthcare, and electricity for rural entrepreneurs, while strengthening social protection mechanisms.
He further disclosed plans to operationalise the Cross River Social Investment Programme (CRSIP), a non-political, multi-sectoral platform aimed at empowering women, youths, the elderly, and vulnerable groups.
Budget Breakdown and Sectoral Allocations
The ₦780.59 billion proposal represents a 17 per cent increase over the 2025 budget. Of the total sum, ₦519.63 billion (67%) is earmarked for capital expenditure, while ₦260.96 billion (33%) is devoted to recurrent spending.
The sectoral distribution includes:
✓ Economic Sector: ₦421 billion
✓✓Social Services: ₦163 billion
✓ General Administration: ₦164 billion
✓ Law and Justice: ₦28 billion
✓ Regional Development: ₦3.6 billion
Governor Otu noted that the 2026 fiscal plan is “designed to strengthen the state’s revenue base, drive human capital development, and secure a prosperous, peaceful, and resilient Cross River.”
Reflecting on 2025: From Sustainable Growth to Inclusive Progress
Reviewing the performance of the 2025 “Budget of Sustainable Growth,” the governor disclosed that it was revised from ₦538 billion to ₦642 billion following improved revenue inflows and prudent fiscal management.
“We cannot spend a single kobo without the legal instrument of appropriation,” Otu emphasised, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
He explained that the supplementary budget became necessary to address urgent interventions such as rural electrification, road rehabilitation, and counterpart funding for development projects.
Infrastructure, Health, and Education Drive 2025 Achievements
Highlighting progress made, Otu described the 2025 fiscal year as “one of the best-performing in the country,” citing Cross River’s 95% routine immunisation coverage, which ranked first nationwide.
Key infrastructure projects include the Adiabo–Ikoneto Road, Esuk Utan–Depot Road dualisation, and the Yahe–Ebo–Wanakom–Wanikade corridor, alongside advances in the Obudu Passenger and Cargo Airport and Bakassi Deep Seaport initiatives.
In the power and health sectors, the governor said cities have been illuminated with solar streetlights while rural communities now benefit from solar mini-grids. Health facilities across the three senatorial districts have been renovated, and the new General Hospital, Ikom, is nearing completion.
“Every School of Nursing in Cross River has now met accreditation standards,” Otu proudly announced.
Administrative Reforms and Digital Transformation
Governor Otu also revealed that his administration has implemented the national minimum wage across all tiers, cleared the first tranche of retirees’ gratuities, and commenced the second phase.
To improve efficiency, he noted that fibre-optic connectivity has been extended across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), while the digitisation of land administration and reissuance of Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-Os) have resumed.
“We are not merely constructing infrastructure; we are building the future and restoring Cross River’s place as a maritime and logistics hub in West Africa,” he declared.
With the 2026 “Budget of Inclusive Growth,” Governor Otu reaffirmed his commitment to inclusive governance, human-centred development, and fiscal responsibility, promising that every kobo spent will translate into tangible improvements in the lives of Cross Riverians.
