The Cross River State Government has projected a 90 percent budget performance for 2025, up from the 85 percent recorded in the 2024 fiscal year.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Otu Otu Ita, disclosed this on Monday at a five-day capacity-building workshop on the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework Strategy Paper (MTEF/SP) and Medium-Term Sector Strategy (MTSS) in Calabar.

“Our 2024 budget performed at about 85%. For 2025, the budget we are currently implementing, as at the close of business in the second quarter, recorded about 35% performance. We are hopeful that we will achieve about 90% by the end of the fiscal year,” he said.

Ita explained that the workshop was designed to equip budget officers, planning commission staff, and statistics officers with the knowledge to link public policy to budgeting and planning, for better resource allocation and improved service delivery.

“Our expectation is that the workshop will inculcate effective revenue and expenditure forecasting in participants, leading to better resource allocation. It will also promote strategic planning by equipping MDAs with skills to develop MTSS that align with the state’s strategic goals, while strengthening fiscal discipline through adherence to fiscal targets and sustainable public finance management,” he added.

He stressed the state’s commitment to plan-based budgeting, ensuring that revenue matches expenditure, with allocations based on proper economic analysis rather than assumptions.

Ita expressed gratitude to UNICEF for organizing the workshop, noting that it would help participants adopt global best practices in budgeting.

In her remarks, UNICEF Chief of Field Office, Enugu, Mrs. Juliet Chiluwe—represented by Social Policy Expert, Mr. Victor Chiama—said UNICEF was partnering with the state to strengthen its capacity to implement development priorities.

She said the organization was providing technical assistance, financial support, and training to improve budgetary allocations to key sectors.

“We expect that priorities, activities, and programs will align with the state’s development plan. With more advocacy, there will be timely release of funds and implementation guided by best practices,” Chiluwe stated.

Also speaking, a Public Finance Management expert and resource person at the workshop, Mr. Oluwasola, noted that budgets in Nigeria have historically had little impact on citizens’ lives.

“Statistics show that while government spends a lot of money, the people rarely see tangible improvements in their standard of living,” he said.