Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu on Tuesday presented a total budget outlay of ₦780.59 billion for the 2026 financial year in the state Assembly, describing it as a ‘budget of inclusive growth’ designed to consolidate the gains of his administration’s People First philosophy.
“I undertake this task with a deep sense of duty, obligation and determination for the development of my beloved state,” Otu said while presenting the Appropriation Bill before lawmakers in Calabar. He said the annual budget presentation goes beyond a bureaucratic ritual, emphasizing that “it is a sacred social contract between the government and the governed, a public declaration of collective intent to enhance the well-being of our people.”
Unveiling his 2026 fiscal outlook, Otoo said the new budget was “the result of extensive consultations with civil society, private sector players, NGOs and the general public.” He said that his administration would henceforth measure development through the Human Development Index (HDI) rather than GDP. “We will measure progress by how well our people live, learn and thrive,” the governor said, promising expanded access to education, health care and electricity for rural entrepreneurs.
Otoo announced a shift in development assessment from gross domestic product (GDP) to the human development index (HDI), emphasizing that 2026 will focus on increasing access to education, health and social protection. “The impact of development should be felt in the lives of our people,” he said. The governor also revealed plans to operationalize the Cross River Social Investment Program (CRSIP) designed to empower the elderly, women, youth and vulnerable groups through a non-political, multi-sector framework.
Governor Otu said the proposed ₦780.59 billion budget represents an increase of 17 per cent compared to 2025, with N519.6 billion (67 per cent) earmarked for capital expenditure and ₦260.96 billion (33 per cent) for recurrent expenditure. The regional distribution, he said, allocates 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,” Otu concluded, “is designed to strengthen our revenue base, promote human capital development and secure a prosperous, peaceful and resilient Cross River State.”
Reflecting on the fiscal performance to 2025, the governor said last year’s ‘Budget for Sustainable Development’ was revised from N538 billion to N642 billion following improvement in revenue flows and prudent management of resources. Otu underlined his administration's commitment to transparency and ethical governance, declaring, “We cannot spend an extra kobo without a legal means of appropriation.”
He explained that the supplementary budget had become necessary due to urgent road repairs, rural electrification and counterpart funding for national and international projects. She added, “We also launched the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Initiative to tackle preventable deaths among mothers and infants – a project that required urgent funding.”
Highlighting the 2025 budget performance, Otu described it as “one of the best in the country”. “Our budget is performing extremely well. Cross River ranks number one nationwide in routine vaccination coverage at 95 per cent, which is clear evidence that our People First Agenda is working,” he said. He listed major road projects including the Adiabo-Ikonto Road, doubling of Esuk Utan-Depot Road and the Yahe-Abo-Wanakom-Wanikade axis as evidence of infrastructure-driven progress.
The Governor also pointed to significant gains in the power and health sectors. “We have illuminated our cities with solar-powered street lights and energized rural communities through solar mini-grids,” he said. He said health facilities in all three senatorial districts have been renovated and equipped, while the new General Hospital in Ikom is nearing completion. “Every school of nursing in Cross River has now met the accreditation standards,” he confirmed.
Otu further revealed that work on the Obudu Passenger and Cargo Airport had reached an advanced stage, while pre-construction negotiations were ongoing for the Bakassi Deep Seaport. “We are not just providing infrastructure, we are building the future, restoring Cross River as the maritime and logistics hub in West Africa,” he said with conviction.
On the administrative front, the Governor announced that his government has implemented the National Minimum Wage at all levels, approved the first installment of gratuity for retirees, and introduced the second. He also revealed that “fiber optic connectivity has been expanded across MDAs for efficient service delivery,” while land administration has been digitalized with the issuance of occupancy certificates.
