Iloke Egbe
The Chairman of the Cross River State House of Assembly Service Commission, Hon. Ntufam Victor Okon, has commended Governor Bassey Edet Otu for the timely presentation of the state's 2027 Appropriation Bill, describing the development as an important step towards effective budget implementation and accelerated development.
Okon said the early presentation of the budget would provide sufficient time for the systematic implementation of Government programmes and projects, while strengthening the process of translating policy objectives into tangible benefits for the people.
He made the remarks while assessing the budget preparation and presentation process, which involved inputs from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as Government Offices, Boards and Commissions.
According to him, the involvement of the various Government institutions demonstrated a coordinated approach to budget preparation and reflected the administration's efforts to ensure that Government priorities were adequately captured in the fiscal plan
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The Commission chairman noted that a well-prepared budget, presented within the appropriate timeframe, was essential to effective planning, resource allocation and monitoring of Government projects.
He described the presentation as a demonstration of the Governor's commitment to constitutional governance and the established processes of public administration, adding that timely budget preparation would provide the necessary framework for the implementation of Government policies and programmes.
Okon also commended the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, and members of the legislature for their role in handling important matters relating to the state's development.
He stressed the importance of constructive cooperation between the executive and legislative arms of Government in ensuring that the budget received the necessary legislative attention and translated into meaningful development outcomes.
Reflecting on the theme of the 2027 budget, "Budget of Consolidation and Renewed Hope," Okon described the proposed expenditure plan as ambitious, noting that its size and capital expenditure allocation reflected the scale of development expectations associated with it.
The proposed budget, valued at approximately ₦987.8 billion, provides about ₦708 billion in capital expenditure and ₦279 billion in recurrent expenditure, according to figures cited by the Commission chairman.
He said the substantial allocation to capital projects offered opportunities for investment in infrastructure and other development priorities, provided that the funds were effectively managed and projects were implemented in line with the objectives of the budget.
Okon expressed optimism that diligent implementation of the appropriation, effective supervision and prudent management of public resources would help improve service delivery and expand development opportunities across the state. He said the budget's success would ultimately be measured by its impact on the lives of residents, particularly through improved infrastructure, access to public services and balanced development across communities.
The chairman further urged Cross Riverians to support the Governor reelection including policies and programmes aimed at advancing the state's development, emphasising the importance of public participation and collective responsibility in achieving sustainable growth. He maintained that even development across the state should remain a priority in the implementation of Government projects, so that communities in different local government areas could benefit from public investments.
Okon expressed confidence that effective collaboration among Government institutions, alongside responsible implementation of the 2027 budget, would help advance the state's development agenda and strengthen the delivery of public services.
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