The Cross River House of Assembly has approved the over N1.3 trillion budget presented to the assembly for the 2018 fiscal year by the Governor Ben Ayade.
The budget, which was presented to the Assembly for passage on November 30, 2017 is tagged: ‘Budget of Kinetic Crystallisation’ is the largest in the history of the state and also makes the state the first to cross the trillion naira mark in fiscal estimates in the country.
Presenting the report of the Budget before the House, the Chairman of the Finance and Appropriation Committee, Mr. Jonas Eteng-Williams, said that the assembly interfaced with various ministries, departments and agencies before considering the passage of the budget.
He disclosed that the various ministries, departments and agencies in the State appeared before relevant house committees to defend their estimates and the assembly did a thorough job on the budget of Kinetic crystallisation.
He justified the humongous estimates presented by the governor stressing that the budget was designed by the governor to promote infrastructural and economic development in the state.
Giving some details about the budget, Hon. Eteng Williams said that to help conduct a successful Carnival this year 2018, the sum of N4.4billion was approved for the Carnival Commission with a view to enable the commission organise a successful carnival in 2018.
Speaking further, he said that the sum of N108.5 had been estimated for recurrent revenue, while recurrent expenditure is N136.6billion and personnel cost pegged at N34billion respectively.
“For rural roads, we have budgeted the sum of N6.7billion to accelerate rural development through provision of basic infrastructure such as roads, portable water, health and others in rural communities. For Agriculture, the sum of N10.9billion has also been budgeted for the sector’’, he said.
Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. John Gaul-Lebo, thanked members of the committee for doing a thorough job, adding that the budget when fully implemented will accelerate urban and rural development in the state.
He commended the governor for prompt payment of salaries as well as appointing youths into leadership positions in the state and directed the Clerk of the House, MrBasseyEkpenyong, to prepare a clean copy of the budget and send to the governor for his assent.
