Cross River Raises 2026 Budget, Citing Changing Economic Realities

Cross River State’s 2026 budget has increased by about N1.45 billion after Governor Bassey Otu signed the state’s Supplementary Appropriation Law. The budget now stands at N963,074,438,018.60, up from N961,624,047,275.08.

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Sometimes, when you go on social media, you see all manner of narratives. But what we are seeing here today is a clear demonstration that there are people who are working and who are committed to the progress of Cross River State.

Otu expressed satisfaction with the commitment of officials in his administration, despite what he called negative narratives on social media. “Sometimes, when you go on social media, you see all manner of narratives. But what we are seeing here today is a clear demonstration that there are people who are working and who are committed to the progress of Cross River State,” he said.

The governor said the state could not continue operating under unchanged policies when circumstances had shifted. “We cannot continue to do things exactly the same way when circumstances have changed. Government must be dynamic enough to adjust, to review and to reposition its policies and programmes to meet the realities of the time,” he said.

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We cannot continue to do things exactly the same way when circumstances have changed. Government must be dynamic enough to adjust, to review and to reposition its policies and programmes to meet the realities of the time.

He added that the economic climate required the government to align development plans and financial resources with wider macroeconomic conditions. “We have to ensure that there is a balance between our development aspirations and the economic realities that confront us. That is why these adjustments and legal frameworks are important,” Otu said.

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We have to ensure that there is a balance between our development aspirations and the economic realities that confront us. That is why these adjustments and legal frameworks are important.

Assembly Speaker Elvert Ayambem said the supplementary appropriation addressed developments and needs not anticipated when the original budget became law. He said it would allow the government to move money from dormant budget lines to areas requiring intervention and include new revenue resulting from increased Federation Allocation to the state.

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This supplementary appropriation is designed to address developments and needs that were not envisaged at the time the principal appropriation law was enacted.