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BUDGET PRESENTATION: Gov Otu proposes 498 Billion for 2025 Fiscal year

 


By Itam Offor


The Cross River State Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu has proposed 498 Billion as the State's budget for the 2025 fiscal year.


The proposed budget tagged; "Budget of Sustainable Growth" earmarked 328 billion (66%) as Capital Expenditure and 170(34%)for Recurrent Expenditure.


A further breakdown shows  that N100 billion was earmarked for Infrastructure, N81 billion for Education , N25 billion for Health while N20 billion was set aside for the Judiciary.


Others include N18 billion for House of  Assembly, 16 billion for Aviation, 15 billion for Special Duties/ Intergovernmental Affairs, 14 billion for Power,11 billion for Agriculture,5 billion for Tourism, 4.7billion for Science Technology and lnnovation, 3.7billion for Women Affairs, 3 billion for lnformation and 181.6 billion for others.


The Governor further highlighted that Federal Allocation, Grants from International Organizations, and Internally Generated  Revenue (IGR) are the major revenue sources to fund the 2025 budget. 


According to the Governor; "the 2025 budget like the previous year's budget is benchmarked on the sustainable development goals SDGs to guarantee the continuity of projects and programmes that may not be completed in this current budget cycle. This necessitated the need to roll over to the 2025 fiscal year."


The Governor added that,; "for this reason, we have deliberately placed emphasis on the SDG 9 - lndustry,  lnnovations and Infrastructure, SDG 4 - Quality Education, SDG 3 - Good Health and well-being; SDG 2 -Zero Hunger as well as SDG 16 - Peace Justice and strong lnstitutions". 


Governor Otu reassured Cross Riverians of his administration's commitment to their well-being, while thanking the leadership of the House of Assembly for synergizing with the Executive and Judicial Arms of Government to improve the state.


Earlier, in a welcome address, the Speaker of the 10th Assembly Rt Hon. Elvert Ayambem commended the Governor  for his efforts and great achievements inspite of the lean resources available to the state.


"We thank you on behalf of the indigenes of Cross River State for your zero tolerance for potholes on the streets of Calabar and the reconstruction of major roads that link the streets of Calabar which hitherto, where in a bad state. One of the greatest assets the State has, is the peace, tranquility and good governance that has been institutionalized in the state under your administration".


"Your  Excellency, your giant strides generally in the areas of Education, Infrastructural Development, Agriculture, Water Supply, Health Care Delivery, Tourism, Rural Development, etc, are topnotch and highly appreciated. Another aspect that endears you to Cross Riverians is the regular payment of salaries to workers and the recent payment of gratuity to our retired Public/Civil Servants who have been suffering before this time. No wonder your administration has been tagged  thePeople First Government."


Ayambem further hailed Gov Otu for putting in place the process of  democratic elections in the Local Government  Councils across the State and expressed faith in CROSIEC to conduct  peaceful, free and fair elections. 


He reiterated the legislature's willingness to make sacrifices and contributions towards ensuring that the three arms of Government enjoy a cordial relationship to facilitate the delivery of democratic dividends to Cross Riverians while stressing the Assembly's commitment to making laws that will promote good governance, encourage transparency and accountability. 


He further expressed confidence that the 2025 budget will facilitate improvements in all sectors of the State's economy.; 

"We are hopeful that quality Education will continue to be guaranteed in our state. Our infrastructure will be upgraded, our teaming youths will be employed and for the Civil Servants who are yet to have their promotions you will attend to their plight. Also the  hardworking staff of the  State House of Assembly whose emoluments cannot be compared with the volume of work they do, I believe you are going to graciously approve for them the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) as provided for in the Cross River State House of Assembly Service Commission law of 2020".


In separate comments some Legislators including the Leader of the House , Rt Hon Francis Asuquo, the Deputy Leader, Rt Hon Davis Etta, and the Chief Whip, Rt Hon Hillary Bisong all hailed the Governor for the payment of gratuity to retirees, the allocation for Education, Infrastructural Development and Health. They assured the Governor of the Assembly's commitment to having a symbiotic relationship with the Executive to facilitate development across the State

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