The Governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu, has stated that the state’s 2024 budget will be fully implemented under transparent supervision.
On Friday in Calabar, he made this declaration as he opened a one-day stakeholders’ budget consultative forum.
When the budget is eventually passed, the governor, through his deputy Peter Odey, promised, his administration will make sure that its implementation ratio is open to public scrutiny.
We’ll make sure this budget is followed exactly as written. If we don’t put it into practice properly, we run the risk of missing out on opportunities to improve the state’s healthcare system or combat hunger and poverty.
“We are on track to have the appropriate budget in 2024, a budget that will construct Cross River and enhance the infrastructure, healthcare, education, standard of living, and transportation sectors.
If our government does not budget properly, we cannot produce wealth. We are unable to even hire because we would be unsure of how many people to hire, according to Otu.
In his keynote speech, State Commissioner for Finance Mike Odere noted that resources are limited and urged the government to ensure proper allocation and utilisation.
Odere, who was represented by Dr. Atim Ekpenyong, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, asserted that senior government officials must ensure that projects are completed on schedule by improving the management of both human and material resources.
Effective resource management, according to him, ensures productivity by preventing staff underperformance and workload overload.
He claims that it lowers the possibility of oversights and, among other things, improves the management of projects.
Similar to this, Mr Cyril Omini, Chairman, State Assembly House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, emphasized the importance of establishing a budget that is in line with the requirements of the populace.
He stated that “everyone of us, our well-being, and our personal goals and aspirations are affected by the budgetary process.
Therefore, Omini said, “We must all participate actively in the budgetary process and work to develop a budget that is focused on improving the lives of our people.”
Omini further urged participants to put aside personal agendas and work together toward a common objective for the benefit of the nation and its citizens.
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