Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has said his administration is shifting focus from economic statistics to human-centred development, with the launch of a Social Investment Programme aimed at empowering women, youths, the elderly, and vulnerable groups across the state.
Presenting a N780.59 billion appropriation bill for the 2026 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly in Calabar, Otu said the new spending plan is designed to consolidate on the gains of his People First agenda and make government’s impact more visible in the lives of ordinary citizens.
“This budget is not about figures or rituals of governance, it is a social contract between government and the governed, a commitment to improve how our people live, learn, and thrive,” he said.
The governor explained that the 2026 budget represents a 17 per cent increase over the 2025 fiscal year, with N519.6 billion (67 per cent) allocated to capital expenditure and N260.96 billion (33 per cent) to recurrent spending. Sectoral allocations include 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.
Otu disclosed that development performance would henceforth be measured using the Human Development Index (HDI) rather than Gross Domestic Product (GDP). “Growth must reflect in the living standards of our people, not just in numbers,” he said.
He announced the take-off of the Cross River Social Investment Programme (CRSIP), which he described as a non-, multi-sectoral framework for social protection and economic inclusion.
Tracing the fiscal path of his administration, the governor recalled that the 2024 “People’s First” Budget stood at N296.98 billion, while the 2025 “Budget of Sustainable Growth” was pegged at N538.5 billion, later raised to N642 billion through a supplementary appropriation.
He said the 2026 plan builds on these foundations, with a deliberate focus on inclusive, measurable growth.
Highlighting achievements under the outgoing fiscal year, Otu cited Cross River’s top ranking nationwide in routine immunisation with 95 per cent coverage, the completion of key road projects such as Adiabo–Ikoneto and Esuk Utan–Depot, and ongoing work on the Obudu Passenger and Cargo Airport and the Bakassi Deep Seaport.
He further stated that his government had implemented the national minimum wage, cleared gratuity arrears, and digitised land administration for efficiency and transparency.
Earlier, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, commended the governor for maintaining steady development across sectors despite lean resources, noting that the administration’s record in infrastructure, health, and education “speaks for itself.”
The speaker, however, appealed for better funding for the legislature and completion of the solar power project at the Assembly complex, pledging the lawmakers’ continued cooperation with the executive in advancing good governance and service delivery in the state.
