|By Adejumo Adekunle –
On Tuesday, Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, presented a proposed N498 billion budget for the 2025 fiscal year to the State House of Assembly in Calabar. Dubbed the “Sustainable Growth Budget,” Otu allocated 66% (N328 billion) to capital projects, with 34% (N170 billion) designated for recurrent spending.
Otu emphasized that the budget aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals, including Zero Hunger, Good Health, Quality Education, and Innovation. “This budget is structured around SDG benchmarks to carry key projects forward,” he stated, adding that it was crafted through extensive consultations with Cross River residents.
House Speaker Elvert Ayambem praised the budget’s potential to drive development, commending Otu’s administration for consistent salary and gratuity payments to civil servants.