Calabar, Cross River State – The Cross River State 2025 Appropriation Bill has been read a second time on the floor of the House of Assembly and committed to the Committee on Finance and Appropriation for further legislative procedures.
The Bill was deliberated upon by legislators after its presentation by the Leader of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Francis Bassey Asuquo of Odukpani State Constituency.
Leading discussion on the bill, Asuquo recalled that the State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, had presented the 2025 budget estimates to the Assembly on the 29th of October 2024, adding that the budget tagged “Budget of Sustainable Growth” has a total size of N498 Billion, with N328 billion (66%) as Capital Expenditure and N170 (34%)for Recurrent Expenditure.
Asuquo elucidated on the merits of the bill reiterating the Governor’s stance that the budget is benchmarked on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and has placed emphasis on SDG 9 – Industry, Innovations and Infrastructure, SDG 4 – Quality Education, SDG 3 – Good Health and well-being; SDG 2 -Zero Hunger as well as SDG 16 – Peace Justice and Strong Institutions.
Asuquo commended the governor for the sectoral allocation, which has N100 billion earmarked for Infrastructure, N81 billion for Education, N25 billion for Health, while N20 billion was set aside for the Judiciary and N18 billion for the House of Assembly.
Other sectoral allocations include N16 billion for Aviation, N15 billion for Special Duties/ Intergovernmental Affairs, N14 billion for Power, N11 billion for Agriculture, N5 billion for Tourism, N4.7 billion for Science, Technology and innovation, N3.7 billion for Women Affairs, N3 billion for Information and N181.6 billion for others.
In their separate contributions, Lawmakers who spoke, including Deputy Leader, Rt. Hon. Davies Etta, (Abi), Hon. Samuel Neji Abang (Ikom I), Hon. Odey Brian Wonah (Yala I), Hon. Thomas Aruku (Ogoja), Hon. Ovat Dickson (Obubura I), Hon. Martins Achadu (Yala II), Hon. Cyril Omini(Yakurr 1) and the Chief Whip of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Hillary Bisong, commended the governor for the budget, which they emphasised is realistic.
The lawmakers further applauded Governor Otu for laying emphasis on Infrastructure, Education and Health as these sectors will greatly improve the socio-economic well-being of the citizens.
They, however, hinted that the allocations for some sectors, including Science, Technology and innovation, as well as Women’s Affairs, may be reconsidered for improvement to adequately address the needs of these sectors.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, hinted that the House will painstakingly carry out its duties at the committee level to ensure an effective process.
He further stressed that the budget process is the cardinal work of the legislature and called on all legislators to attend the budget defence exercise by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) which will soon commence before mandating the Finance and Appropriation Committee to do a thorough job and report back to the House on the 7th of December 2024.