The governor of Cross River State, Prof Ben Ayade, yesterday presented N330 billion appropriation bill for the 2023 fiscal year to the house of assembly.
The bill is christened budget of ‘Quantum infinitum.’
Recall that the governor has been associated with giving state budgets weird numenclatures.
The 2016 appropriation bill was christened ‘Budget of Deep Vision; 2017: Budget of Infinite Transposition; 2018: Budget of Kinetic Crystallisation; 2019: Budget of Qabalistic Densification; 2020: Budget of Olimpotic Meritemasis; 2021: Budget of Blush and Bliss; 2022: Budget of Conjugated Agglutination; and, finally, 2023: Budget of Quantum infinitum.
Speaking during the presentation of the document to lawmakers in Calabar, Ayade said the 2023 budget had been designed to focus on the people to help them survive during the difficult transition.
“We have appropriated N330 billion for 2023, and 39 per cent of the budget is for recurrent expenditure, which is N130 billion, while capital expenditure is taking 69 per cent, and that is N200 billion to kinetically crystalise projects.
“The 39 per cent is for payment of salaries, gratuities, pensions and everything that will address issues of extreme poverty and criminality, creating a Cross River that is sane, which is the primary purpose of government.
“The budget is one that will help my people survive during this difficult transition,” he said.
He also said the budget will focus on deeper agro-industrialisation will also see to the completion of the unfinished projects.
He, however, appealed to the federal government to support the state’s 2023 budget.
“Most of the projects are finished. We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to support Cross River’s N330 billion budget to complete our industrialisation process,” he added.
Speaking further, he said by early next year about 85 per cent of the state’s work force will retire.
“There is need for massive recruitment now , so that the new people can understudy those who are leaving.
“By early next year, about 85 percent of the workforce in the cross River state civil service will be leaving , so there is an urgent need for massive recruitment.
“I have been able to create an Independent economy under my watch that needs to be sustained.
