Cross River Deepens Citizen Engagement, Holds Southern District Budget Consultative Forum
By Ebi COLLINS
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency and participatory governance, the Cross River State Government on Tuesday convened the Southern Senatorial District leg of the 2026 Budget Consultative Forum at Transcorp Hotel, Calabar.
The forum, attended by traditional rulers, lawmakers, civil society representatives, women and youth leaders, and market associations, served as a platform to review the performance of the 2025 budget and collate stakeholders’ inputs toward shaping the 2026 fiscal plan.
Similar sessions had earlier been held in Ikom and Ogoja for the Central and Northern Senatorial Districts, respectively, reinforcing Governor Bassey Otu’s People-First governance philosophy, which prioritizes inclusiveness and grassroots participation in decision-making.
In his opening remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Otu Ita, described the zonal consultations as “a practical demonstration of Governor Otu’s commitment to inclusive governance,” adding that the process was designed to institutionalize a bottom-up approach to fiscal planning.
“This is governance driven by the people and for the people. The Governor has made it clear that the 2026 Budget must evolve from citizens’ priorities, not just from bureaucratic proposals,” Otu Ita stated.
He explained that the Southern Consultative Forum provided a crucial opportunity for stakeholders to influence the state’s fiscal direction and ensure equitable representation in the budgeting process.
On his part, the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Hon. Okon Owuna, hailed the consultative model as “a hallmark of responsible and responsive governance,” assuring participants that the State House of Assembly remains committed to approving a budget that mirrors the collective aspirations of Cross Riverians.
“These consultative meetings in Ogoja, Ikom, and now Calabar guarantee that every senatorial district has a voice. That is what participatory democracy should look like,” Owuna said, emphasizing the need to sustain investments in road infrastructure, agriculture, and education to foster balanced development.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Mike Odere, lauded the robust citizen participation, noting that it reflects growing public confidence in the Otu-led administration.
“Cross River State is redefining public finance management. Our budgeting process is participatory, our tax system fair, and our projects people-centered,” Odere declared, pledging that fiscal discipline would remain the cornerstone of the 2026 budget.
In her remarks, the Accountant General of the State, Dr. (Mrs.) Glory Effiong, commended the Governor’s leadership for restoring institutional efficiency and public trust in governance.
She noted that under Governor Otu, service delivery has improved significantly, with faster project approvals, enhanced inter-ministerial coordination, and a renewed sense of professionalism within the civil service.
“This is a government that values both the aged and the youth, and even generations yet unborn,” she said. “Governor Otu has redefined public service ethics, and that’s why people are once again proud to serve.”
The Chairman of the Cross River Internal Revenue Service (CRIRS), Prince Edwin Okon, emphasized the role of tax compliance in sustainable development, revealing that from January 2026, the state will roll out a harmonized, technology-driven tax system that eliminates multiple taxation and simplifies compliance.
“We are not taxing poverty; we are automating tax administration to ensure fairness and efficiency. Anyone earning ₦800,000 or less per annum will be exempted from personal income tax. That’s how people-centered this government is,” Okon assured.
In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Ovai Solomon Edward Osim, applauded the administration’s impressive budget implementation record, which he rated at over 70 percent, while praising the Governor for giving traditional institutions a voice in policy formulation.
“This is the first time in recent memory that the traditional council is actively part of the budgeting process. It shows that the Governor listens and governs inclusively,” he said.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Edema Irom, advocated deliberate gender inclusion in the 2026 budget, stressing that women’s empowerment must remain a strategic focus of government investment.
“True development is inclusive. When women thrive, families and communities prosper,” she said, urging sustained funding for programs addressing gender-based violence and rural women empowerment.
The session featured rich and constructive contributions from participants, reflecting a shared vision for sustainable growth, fiscal prudence, and inclusive development.
In closing,
