Key Takeaways
- Governor Bassey Otu signed Cross River State's 2026 Supplementary Appropriation Law, lifting the budget above N963 billion.
- The Social Investment and Protection Law establishes an agency for poor and vulnerable residents.
- The Health Quackery (Prohibition) Law creates a task force to stop unlicensed health practitioners.
- Otu described the new legal packages as proof that his administration is working despite negative social media narratives.
CALABAR, Nigeria — Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, on Wednesday signed the 2026 Supplementary Appropriation Law alongside two other bills: the Cross River State Social Investment and Protection Law and the Cross River State Health Quackery (Prohibition) Law.
The supplementary budget raises the state's 2026 spending plan from N961,624,047,275.08 to N963,074,438,018.60. Otu said the new laws will provide stronger institutional frameworks for the welfare of vulnerable residents, protect citizens from unqualified healthcare practitioners and ensure that government resources remain responsive to prevailing needs.
Otu acknowledged that social media often carries negative narratives. "Sometimes, when you go on social media, you see all manner of narratives. But what we are seeing here today is a clear demonstration that there are people who are working and who are committed to the progress of Cross River State," he said.
Why the Budget Adjustment Matters
Otu insisted that government must adapt to changing realities. "We cannot continue to do things exactly the same way when circumstances have changed. Government must be dynamic enough to adjust, to review and to reposition its policies and programmes to meet the realities of the time," he said.
Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Elvert Ayambem, said Otu presented the supplementary bill on July 21, 2026, to address developments not envisaged when the principal budget was passed. The law also allows movement of funds from dormant budget lines to critical areas and accommodates new revenue from increased Federal Allocation.
Social Investment Gains Legal Backing
The Cross River State Social Investment and Protection Law now provides a firm legal and institutional framework for managing social investment programmes. It establishes the Cross River State Social Investment and Protection Agency, including its governing board, staffing and financial provisions.
Otu said the legislation gives government a coordinated platform to tackle poverty. "Our responsibility as a government is to ensure that nobody is left behind. This law gives us a stronger institutional framework to reach the poor, the vulnerable and those who genuinely require social protection and empowerment," he said.
Fighting Health Quackery
The Health Quackery (Prohibition) Law targets unlicensed medical practice and strengthens monitoring across healthcare facilities. It also establishes a Health Monitoring Task Force and enhances collaboration with law enforcement agencies.
"Anyone who holds himself or herself out as a healthcare professional must be properly qualified, registered and competent to provide such services," Otu said.
Why This Matters
These three laws connect budget flexibility with social inclusion and healthcare safety. They give Cross River State clearer institutional tools to respond to economic realities while protecting the lives and dignity of its people.