From Ene Asuquo, Calabar

Cross River state government has said its meaningful engagements with Cross Riverians across the three senatorial districts of the state will afford citizens an inclusive budget document that will meet the needs and yearnings of the masses.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget, Monitoring and Evaluation, Otu Otu-Ita, who made the assertion, recently, at the Budget Consultative Forum for Southern Senatorial District, held at the conference hall of College of Health Technology Calabar, charged Cross Riverians to continue to support the leadership of Governor Bassey Otu, as well as participate in the budget process.

Otu-Ita commended the Otu-led administration for its prudent management of resources and the unprecedented improvement of the state revenue base, which has so far shored up to about 19 billion doing very well because as at June of 2024.

“When we carried out the second quarter budget performance review in June, we saw that the budget was performing optimally,” he stated.

The Budget SA expressed optimism that in the 2025 financial year, Cross River will have enough revenue to carry out expenditure activities that will improve the well-being of the people living in Cross River State.

Also speaking, the Executive Chairman of Cross River Internal Revenue Service, Prince Edwin Okon expressed delight at Otu’s support and desire towards the implementation of the 2024 budget.

Okon said the Otu-led administration has made a significant difference in terms of budget implementation given the far-reaching policies, infrastructure development and health and agricultural programmes which, he maintained, have greatly launched the state on the trajectory of progress.

He assured Cross Riverians that revenue and financial agencies of the government will continue to work in synergy to ensure that the present administration delivers its ‘People First’ agenda.

Articulating his views, former clerk of the State House of Assembly, Adie Akabisong commended the Governor for opening up his leadership to people’s participation, saying it is an eloquent testimony to his ‘People First’ agenda.

“The level of inclusion in this administration has been very high. It is something Cross Riverians have been longing for.

“This forum is giving the people the opportunity to lend a voice to the budget process of how income will be generated and taxpayers monies spent for the betterment of the state.

Other critical stakeholders, notably, commissioners, budgeting and financial experts, civil society groups, and heads of government departments and agencies, took turns to articulate their views towards a budget that would be teething with the needs of the people.