The Cross River State Government has restated its commitment to transparency and inclusive governance through sustained citizen engagement, as it held the Southern Senatorial District leg of the 2026 Budget Consultative Forum on Tuesday at Transcorp Hotel, Calabar.
The forum, which drew traditional rulers, lawmakers, civil society groups, women leaders, market leaders, and youth representatives, was aimed at reviewing the performance of the 2025 budget and gathering inputs from stakeholders to shape the 2026 fiscal plan.
Similar consultative sessions had earlier been held in Ikom and Ogoja for the Central and Northern Senatorial Districts respectively, underscoring the Otu administration’s firm belief that every region and community deserves a voice in the state’s development agenda.
In his opening remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Budget Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Otu Ita, described the exercise as a practical demonstration of Governor Bassey Otu’s People-First philosophy, anchored on inclusion, transparency, and citizen participation in governance.
He explained that the series of zonal budget consultations reflects the government’s resolve to institutionalize a bottom-up planning process that captures the real needs of communities across the state. “This is governance driven by the people and for the people.
The Governor has made it clear that the 2026 Budget must emerge from citizens’ priorities, not from the desk of bureaucrats alone,” he said. Otu Ita emphasized that the Southern Consultative Forum offers stakeholders in the district an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the state’s fiscal direction, ensuring that no community is left behind in the budgeting process.
The Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Hon. Okon Owuna, commended the participatory budgeting process, describing it as a hallmark of responsible governance. He assured participants that the House of Assembly remains committed to approving a budget that reflects the collective aspirations of Cross Riverians.
“These consultative meetings in Ogoja, Ikom, and now Calabar, ensure that every senatorial district has a voice. That is what participatory democracy should look like,” Owuna said.
He highlighted the need to sustain funding for key sectors such as road infrastructure, agriculture, and education to drive inclusive development across the state. The Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Mike Odere, applauded the robust citizen turnout, noting that it reflects the growing trust in Governor Otu’s People-First administration.
He said the government’s approach to fiscal planning is deliberately transparent, ensuring that both revenues and expenditures are publicly accounted for. “Cross River State is redefining public finance management. We are making our budgeting process participatory, our tax system fair, and our projects people-centered,” he said, assuring that fiscal discipline will remain the bedrock of the 2026 budget.
In her remarks, the Accountant General of the State, Dr. (Mrs.) Glory Effiong, commended Governor Otu’s leadership for strengthening institutional efficiency and restoring public confidence in governance. She noted that under the current administration, service delivery has improved significantly, with faster project clearances, prompt approvals, and better coordination across ministries.
“This is a government that values both the aged, the youth, and even generations yet unborn,” she said. “Governor Otu has redefined public service ethics, and that is why today, people are proud to serve under this administration.”
The Chairman of the Cross River State Internal Revenue Service (CRIRS), Mr. Edwin Okon, charged citizens to be more tax-compliant, describing taxation as a shared responsibility in nation-building. He revealed that beginning January 2026, the state will implement a new harmonized tax system that eliminates multiple taxation and introduces simplified, technology-driven compliance mechanisms.
“We are not taxing poverty; rather, we are automating tax administration to ensure fairness and efficiency,” Okon said. “Anyone earning ₦800,000 or less per annum will be exempted from personal income tax.
That’s how people-centered this government is.” The Chairman of the Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Ovai Solomon Edward Osim, commended the Governor for sustaining high levels of budget implementation across all sectors. He rated the 2025 budget performance at over 70 percent and praised the administration for keeping the traditional institution actively engaged in policy consultations.
“This is the first time in recent memory that the traditional council is directly part of the state’s budgeting process. It shows that the Governor listens and governs inclusively,” he said.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Edema Irom, called for deliberate gender inclusion in the 2026 budget, emphasizing that the needs and aspirations of women must be adequately captured across all sectors.
“We must always ask: how many women benefit from agricultural inputs, empowerment grants, and enterprise funding?” she queried.
“True development is inclusive; when women thrive, families and communities prosper.” She also urged sustained funding for programs addressing gender-based violence and rural women empowerment.
The Southern Senatorial District consultative forum was marked by rich contributions from participants, reflecting a shared vision for sustainable growth, fiscal discipline, and inclusive development. In his closing remarks, Mr. Otu Ita thanked all stakeholders for their insightful contributions and reaffirmed the government’s determination to translate citizens’ inputs into actionable policies.
“This is how we build a people-first government: by listening, by engaging, and by delivering,” he concluded.
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