Gov. Otu earmarks N46 billion budgetary allocations for PWDs, signs 2024 budget into law

Sen. Bassey Otu, the Governor of Cross River state has recently earmarked an additional ₦46 billion budgetary provisions for specialised needs of Persons With Disabilities in the State.

Sen. Otu had submitted a budget proposal of ₦250 billion to the State House of Assembly on October 26, 2023, and requested a special consideration for Persons with disabilities in the budget. This request however compelled the Assembly to jerk the estimate up by ₦46 billion from ₦250 billion to ₦296 billion.

While signing the budget last weekend, the Governor remarked that “the increase is predicated on the need to provide adequate financial support to our people with disabilities, which I requested for, after laying the budget proposal before the State House of Assembly”

Accordingly, he mentioned that the interest in PWDs “is not just a necessity but a moral imperative to erase social imbalance of this special demographics as they are vulnerable group.”

Gov. Otu added that “PWDs require specialised care, adaptive equipment and access to resources that accommodate their unique needs”.

He said “this increase will facilitate better access to healthcare, assistive technologies, education and employment opportunities tailored to their capabilities. Therefore it is not just a fiscal decision but a statement of our value as a society which is espoused by my administration.”

Gov. Otu signed the state N296.985 billion 2024 budget, christened People First budget, into law after its passage by the House of Assembly

The governor commended the Cross River State House of Assembly for their due diligence and early passage of the bill, attributing the success to the cooperative relationship between the executive and legislative branches. He highlighted the budget as a blueprint reflecting the state’s priorities, values, and commitment to its citizens.

Otu affirmed the state’s dedication to implementing the budget in line with the 2024–2026 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategic Paper. He reiterated the administration’s commitment to exploring innovative avenues to increase internally generated revenue for funding.