By Our Reporter
The Cross River State Government has intensified efforts to promote inclusive governance by engaging citizens in the preparation of the 2027 budget through a Budget Consultative Forum for the Northern Senatorial District held at the Ogoja Local Government Council.
The consultative forum, which forms part of the state’s commitment to transparency, accountability and participatory budgeting, brought together government officials, community leaders, stakeholders and residents to review ongoing development efforts and make contributions towards the formulation of the 2027 budget.
Speaking at the opening of the forum, the Permanent Secretary, Department of Budget, Monitoring and Evaluation in the Governor’s Office, Dr Peter Uklala, described the exercise as a vital platform for citizen participation in governance. He urged participants to take advantage of the opportunity to articulate the developmental needs of their communities, noting that their contributions would help shape government planning and resource allocation.
The State Economic Adviser, Prof Peter Oti, reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that the budget reflects the needs of the people. He encouraged stakeholders to identify priority projects capable of improving access to basic social amenities and critical infrastructure, stressing that such investments remain central to sustainable development across the Northern Senatorial District.
A Public Financial Management Expert, Mr Ben Ubi, presented an overview of the state’s budget framework, explaining the processes of revenue generation, expenditure allocation and budget implementation. He emphasised the importance of effective planning and prudent management of public resources in achieving the state’s development objectives.
During the interactive session, stakeholders reviewed projects executed by the administration of Governor Bassey Otu across Ogoja, Yala and other local government areas within the district. Community representatives, including Mr Emmanuel Iyaji, Mrs Rose Ngaji and Mr Paul Iwara, acknowledged completed and ongoing projects while also identifying priority areas requiring further government intervention. A visual presentation showcasing photographs of completed and ongoing projects was also displayed.
Participants commended the state government for providing citizens with a platform to contribute to the budgeting process. Their recommendations were documented for consideration in the preparation of the 2027 budget and subsequent state budgets.
The forum concluded with a group photograph involving government officials, community representatives and other stakeholders, reaffirming the state’s commitment to sustained collaboration with citizens in planning and implementing development programmes.
