Cynthia Ezegwu
Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has 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 on Tuesday in Calabar, Governor Otu said the budget reflected his administration’s commitment to human-centred development, transparency, and social investment.
“This is not just a bureaucratic ritual; it is a sacred social contract between government and the governed,” Otu stated. “We will now measure progress through the Human Development Index, focusing on how much better our people live, learn, and thrive.”
The ₦780.59 billion proposal represents a 17 per cent increase from the 2025 budget, with ₦519.6 billion (67%) allocated for capital expenditure and ₦260.96 billion (33%) for recurrent spending.
A sectoral breakdown shows ₦421 billion 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.
Otu said the 2026 budget would prioritise education, healthcare, and social protection, while operationalising the Cross River Social Investment Programme to support the elderly, women, youth, and vulnerable groups.
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He also highlighted major achievements from the 2025 fiscal year, including improved infrastructure, enhanced power supply, and health sector reforms. “Cross River ranked number one nationwide in routine immunisation coverage with 95 per cent — clear proof that our People First agenda is working,” the governor noted.
The governor reaffirmed his commitment to fiscal discipline, stressing that no expenditure would be made outside the legal framework of appropriation.
Otu assured that ongoing projects such as the Obudu Passenger and Cargo Airport, the Bakassi Deep Seaport, and major road works would continue to receive priority funding in 2026.