Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has presented a total budget outlay of ₦780.59 billion for the 2026 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly.
Otu described it as a ‘budget of Inclusive growth’ designed to consolidate on the gains of his administration’s People First philosophy.
Presenting the Appropriation Bill before lawmakers on Tuesday in Calabar, Governor Otu said, “I approached the task with a profound sense of duty, obligation, and determination to the development of our dear state.”
He noted that the annual budget presentation transcends bureaucratic ritual, stressing that “it is a sacred social contract between government and the governed, a public declaration of collective intent to enhance the well-being of our people.”
Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, presenting a total budget outlay of ₦780.59 billion for the 2026 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly. Photo: Emem Julius
Unveiling his 2026 fiscal vision, Otu said the new budget was the outcome of “wide-ranging consultations with civil society, private sector players, NGOs, and the general public, adding that his administration would henceforth measure development through the Human Development Index rather than GDP.
Otu announced a shift in development assessment from Gross Domestic Product to the Human Development Index, stressing that 2026 will focus on expanding access to education, health, and social protection.
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