By Kelvin Obambon
As part of efforts to strengthen transparency, accountability, and public participation in fiscal policy, the Cross River State Government has hosted the 2027 Budget Consultative Forum for the Northern Senatorial District at the Ogoja Local Government Council Secretariat.
The consultative exercise brought together government dignitaries, community leaders, key stakeholders, and local residents from across Ogoja, Yala, and neighboring local government areas to evaluate ongoing developmental projects and directly contribute to the formulation of the state’s upcoming budget.
Opening the forum, the Permanent Secretary in the Department of Budget, Monitoring and Evaluation (Governor’s Office), Dr. Peter Uklala, characterized the town hall as a vital mechanism for grassroots-driven governance. He urged community representatives to actively voice the immediate needs of their localities while pointing to key infrastructure projects successfully executed across the state under the administration of Governor Bassey Otu.
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Reinforcing the administration’s roadmap, the State Economic Adviser, Prof. Peter Akpa Oti, stressed the importance of strategic project selection. He advised stakeholders to prioritize initiatives that expand access to essential social amenities and critical infrastructure, noting that targeted interventions yield the highest impact on citizen welfare and long-term economic development in the region.
A technical session led by Public Financial Management Expert, Mr. Ben Ubi, provided participants with an overview of the state’s financial architecture. His presentation detailed revenue generation streams, expenditure allocation strategies, and the imperative of fiscal prudence and structured planning to achieve the state’s broader development goals.
During the interactive session, attendees reviewed the government’s local footprint. Visual presentations and physical evidence showcased completed and ongoing infrastructure developments across Ogoja and Yala. Local representatives, including Mr. Emmanuel Iyaji, Mrs. Rose Ngaji, and Mr. Paul Iwara, acknowledged the progress made while presenting additional priority areas for future budget cycles, notably in public utilities and essential social services.
The event concluded with the formal documentation of stakeholder submissions for integration into upcoming state budget drafts, followed by a joint group photograph featuring state officials and community leaders, symbolizing a shared commitment to participatory development across Cross River North.
