The Cross River State House of Assembly has approved a supplementary budget of ₦642 billion for the 2025 fiscal year.

This development follows the earlier passage of the 2025 Appropriation Bill on December 24, 2024, which had a total budget size of ₦538 billion and was titled the “Budget of Sustainable Growth.”

The newly approved supplementary budget represents a 26% increase over the initial budget.

Lawmakers explained that the additional funding was prompted by Governor Bassey Otu’s dedication to accelerating infrastructural projects across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state.

Presenting the committee's report, the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Hon. Okon Owuna, stated that the supplementary budget was necessary to accommodate urgent and essential expenditures that were not initially included in the original budget.

According to him, "Key drivers of the supplementary budget include emerging obligations and unforeseen expenditures, newly approved strategic programs requiring urgent funding, as well as a positive projection in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), internal grants, and allocations from the Federation Account."

He further explained that the revised budget covers increased allocations to key sectors such as Administration, Economic Development, Law and Justice, Regional Development, and Social Services. Funding sources will include IGR, external grants, and allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

Commending the executive, Owuna noted that the move reflects constitutional compliance, stating, “It is with great satisfaction that we acknowledge the efforts of the Senator Bassey Edet Otu-led administration in following due legislative processes for the passage of a supplementary budget, as provided for in the Nigerian Constitution.”

He pointed out that, unlike in previous years where budgets were often reviewed downwards through amendments to the Appropriation Law, the current administration has taken the more appropriate route by seeking legislative approval for a supplementary appropriation.

In his remarks, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, emphasized that the supplementary budget aims to enhance the welfare of residents, assuring that development projects across all Local Government Areas have been strategically included to ensure balanced transformation throughout the state.