From Judex Okoro, Calabar
Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has presented a N1.3 trillion 2018 budget to the House of Assembly.
The 2018 budget is far higher than the 2017 budget of N301 billion.
Out of the total sum, 70 percent of the budget is for capital expenditure while 30 is for re-current.
Presenting the budget before the Assembly, in Calabar, yesterday, Ayade said it is designed to add value to the socio-economic development and well-being of all Cross Riverans.
He said the priority of the budget is to develop the state’s deep seaport and the super highway, which are his two signature projects.
The governor explained that the size of the budget is big because the state is creating room to warehouse the expected investors’ funds now that actual construction work has started at super highway and deep sea port.
“This is to help us develop critical asset in the state. N7 billion has been budgeted for the state’s job centre, with a view to help us train our unemployed youths with marketable job skills,” he said. Speaker John Gaul-Lebo, commended the governor for commencing work on the deep sea port and the super highway.