Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State, on Tuesday, presented a total budget outlay of ₦780.59 billion for the 2026 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly.
He described it as a budget of inclusive growth designed to consolidate on the gains of his administration’s philosophy.
Gov. Otu said the proposed ₦780.59 billion budget marks a 17 percent increase over 2025, with ₦519.6 billion (67%) earmarked for capital expenditure and ₦260.96 billion (33%) for recurrent spending.
The sectoral distribution, he said, allocates ₦421 billion to the economic sector, ₦163 billion to social services, ₦164 billion to general administration, ₦28 billion to law and justice, and ₦3.6 billion to regional development.
“This budget,” Gov. Otu continued, “is designed to strengthen our revenue base, drive human capital development, and secure a prosperous, peaceful, and resilient Cross River State.”
Reflecting on the 2025 fiscal performance, the governor stated that last year’s budget of sustainable growth was revised from ₦538 billion to ₦642 billion following improved revenue inflows and prudent management of resources.
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He added that his administration would henceforth measure development through the human development index, rather than the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“We will judge progress by how much better our people live, learn, and thrive,” the governor declared, promising expanded access to education, healthcare, and electricity for rural entrepreneurs.
Gov. Otu announced a shift in development assessment, stressing that 2026 will focus on expanding access to education, health, and social protection.
“The impact of development must be felt in the lives of our people,” he said, revealing plans to operationalize the Cross River Social Investment Programme (CRSIP), designed to empower the elderly, women, youth, and vulnerable groups through a non-political, multi-sectoral framework.
