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By Akpan David, Calabar
Local leaders in Ogoja and Ikom LGAs of Cross River State have listed arrays of needs which they want Governor Bassey Otu to include in the 2025 Budget.
The state government is presently going round the state to collect inputs to enable them form a financial document for next year’s budget.
Chief John Ntaji, Chief Simon Ntaji from Ogoja and Ntoe Boniface Ndome Ntui, Clement Agbor from Ikom listed needs ranging from roads, electricity, water, health and education with vocational centres in all local government areas.
They stressed that vocational training of the youths was very critical which government must focused on in the 2025 budget and practically implement so that such can reduce dependence on white collar jobs.
According to them, previous governments never took them into consideration when preparing budgets by holding consultative sessions.
“This is the first time that government has come to the people to seek their opinions and inputs to form a budget.
“We hope that they will take into account what we have told them us our needs; not you coming to do any kind of project which is not beneficial to us”, he said.
Special Adviser on Budget Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr Otu Otuita led the consultative meetings with the people.
He explained that the meetings are to enable government collect inputs from the people to form the budget document for the 2025 appropriation bill.
Addressing the congregation of chiefs, religious leaders, Ckvil Society Organisations, NGOs, women, youth and opinion leaders who were gathered at the Ogoja and Ikom council halls, Otuita said the engagement was to afford the Budget Office listen to, have their critiques and inputs for the 2025 financial year.
“We can’t continue to sit in Calabar to decide what projects should be done in different villages.
“The people in Calabar cannot know what the man in Ishibori or Ukelle or Obudu village wants.
“The era of government deciding what they think people want has gone. People should tell government their most pressing needs.
“Gov Otu’s government is committed to do everything possible to prioritize the citizens’ needs within the available resources.”
He disclosed that the 2024 budget has performed by more than 50% for the current and capital expenditure.
He added that the State government is optimistic of achieving more and meeting the needs of the people in line with the financial guide document.
He outlined the 2025 budget policy trust to include upscaling agro revolution, reduce debt burden, enhance social protection and overhaul public schools.
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