Andy Essiet, Calabar
Gov. Bassey Otu
Cross River State government has reviewed downwards it’s 2023 budget from N330 billion to N250 . 781 billion.
With this downward review it means the budget has been slashed by about N79 billion.
The State Governor, Sen. Bassey Otu who signed the revised 2023 appropriation bill into law on Thursday, said the review became necessary as the earlier figure is unrealistic.
Speaking at the event, Sen. Otu said the need to review the 2023 budget became expedient because of his government’s decision “to work within a realistic financial framework of the State”
This was contained in a statement from the governor’s office which recalled that the 2023 appropriation bill was signed by the immediate past administration of Senator Ben Ayade.
Governor Otu said, “let me start by thanking the speaker and the house for the speed in passing this bill. One of the most difficult bills to pass in the legislature is the appropriation bill.
“It is the first bill I am signing into law in conformity with the People’s First agenda, collaborating with the House of Assembly we shall achieve the desired results.
“With the signing into law of this revised appropriation bill,
Cross Riverians will start seeing the real dividends of democracy which will improve the fortunes of the state”.
According to the Governor, the essence of the downward review of the budget is to capture the true income indices and make the bill more realistic in line with current reality in Internally Generated Revenue as well as the monthly allocation from federation to the state.
Earlier, the speaker, Rt. Hon. Ayambem expressed gratitude to his colleagues for working assiduously to see that work on the budget was completed in record time
According to him, the budget was reviewed downwards in light of the state’s revenue income.
“It is the most realistic budget in time past, the bill was reviewed in light of the state’s financial income, Cross Riverians will be happy with the size of this budget.
“The legislative bottlenecks were observed and all due process strictly followed and I assure you that the executive now has a good ground to take off”
Assuring the governor of a harmonious working synergy between the legislature and the executives, the speaker said, “I want to assure you of the cooperation and collaboration of the House of Assembly in providing good governance to the State”
