4 November 2020
Stakeholders present at the 2021 edition of the Citizen Budget Consultation Forum, which held virtually in Calabar the Cross River state capital stalled the virtual deliberations, which held on Wednesday between 3:30PM and 5:30PM NEGROIDHAVEN can report.
The Citizens Budget Consultation Forum which is open to the public, especially traditional rulers, local government representatives, women and youth from various works of life, civil society and students from secondary school and tertiary academic institutions halted the deliberations on the 2021 budget estimates holding on Zoom on the basis that the Department of Budget, Monitoring and Evaluation was yet to serve attendees with copies of the document which was in the hands of only the Special Adviser on Budget to the Governor of Cross River, Moses Onoh.
Hon. Dr. Bassey Ibor the Executive Director, Centre for Community Empowerment; Mfon Gabriel of Policy Influencing and Research Associate; Mba Oyongha, Jonathan Abang Ugbal of CrossRiverWatch, Wofai Ewa and a host of others insisted that there was need for the budget proposal to be sent to stakeholders present so that took they could study and make their relevant inputs.
While addressing the audience, Onoh disclosed that the focus of the 2021 budget estimate is citizen welfare and reconstruction. He added that 85% of 2021 budget estimates are billed to concentrate on welfare of Cross Riverians.
SA Onoh promised to send between Wednesday evening and Thursday morning a softcopy of the budget estimates to those present through email while scheduling a better time before the governor presents the 2021 appropriation bill.
But, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Hope Obeten, has notified the public that come Thursday, Sen. Ben Ayade, the Executive Governor of Cross River State will present the estimates for the financial year 2021 to the Cross River State House of Assembly.
