By Kingsley Agim
As the 2022 Budgeting Cycle commences, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget, Monitoring and Evaluation, Comrade Otu Otu Ita has assured Cross Riverians of the Ayade-led administration’s resolve to improve on the State’s budgeting processes and present an appropriation bill that will reflect the yearnings and aspirations of the masses in the next fiscal year.
The Special Adviser gave the assurance, yesterday, at the one-day Consultative Forum for the 2022 Proposed Budget Preparation, held in the Conference Room of the Cross River Geographic Information Agency, Calabar.
Comrade Ita averred that the consultative forum was part of government’s effort in ensuring that the 2022 budget, reflects contributions from the vast majority of stakeholders and the citizens, in order to foster even distribution of democratic dividends.
Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser said: “This event is basically to seek stakeholders input into the 2022 Budget as part of efforts to ensure inclusiveness and evenly spread dividends of democracy.
Continuing, he said in line with extant circulars and provisions, the commencement of the 2022 budgeting circle will herald “an implementable and realistic 2022 Budget. A Budget that will continue to meet the developmental needs and aspiration of our people.”
"Permit me to inform you that under the leadership of Sen. (Prof.) Ben Ayade, the Governor of Cross River State, every technique that aids the proper management of Public Finance is vital, bearing in mind where we are coming from and where we are heading. We may not have the financial capacity to compete, but we are highly determined and committed to provide our people with the best services through the judicious application of available resources. I, therefore, urge you to make meaningful contributions,” he remarked.
"Let me seize this opportunity to thank the citizens for your contributions and ideas during the 2021 Citizens’ Budget. You all played significant role in the final outcome of the 2021 Budget document which we are currently implementing, Comrade Ita concluded.
In a keynote address, the State Commissioner for Finance, Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong Jnr, re-echoed the significance of inclusive budgetary process, arguing that it lays the foundation for a robust and quality budget.
Speaking on quality budget preparation, the Commissioner who was represented at the event by his Permanent Secretary, Mr. Gabriel Ikang, said "it is appropriate to gather inputs from relevant stakeholders within the State, such as Organised Private Sector (OPS), Civil Societies, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), Representatives of Women Groups, and Artisans etc."
Such inputs, the Commissioner maintained, "would form basis upon which the State Government develops it budgets for the coming year. They represent interest and needs of the people across different sphere of the society. As a responsible government we are always delighted to listen and take advice from citizens.”
"As for the 2022 budget, I am of the opinion that the state government will continue to consolidate on the gains of the previous achievements thereby building on the agro-industrialisation drive in the State,” the Commissioner assured.
The Forum also received presentations by the State Planning Commission, the Cross River Internal Revenue Service, Budget Transparency and Accountability Network (BTAN), Ministries of Health, Education and Agriculture.
The event climaxed with a question and answer session about teething issues bothering on budget and budget implementation, where the Special Adviser took time to satisfactorily do justice to, while promising to channel every concern raised to the appropriate quarters.
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