C/River government clarifies out-of-context reports over N5bn renovation budget

The Cross River State Government has clarified that it is renovating not just the Governor’s Office, rather all its liaison offices and lodges in Abuja and Lagos.

“The clarification has become necessary in view of the out-of-context report by a segment of the media,” a statement by the chief press secretary to the governor, Emmanuel Ogbeche, said Friday.

“As an administration that is accountable to the people, Governor Bassey Otu had in response to a question on his 100 days in office made the point that the cost of renovating the badly rundown Governor’s Office in Calabar as well as the liaison offices and lodges of the state government in Abuja and Lagos could be anything between N3 billion and N5 billion.

“However, we note with dismay the attempt by some segment of the media to twist the governor’s position out of context for the clicks.

“It must be stated that the Government of Senator Otu has one of the most robust palliative rollout which should be applauded by well-meaning citizens and responsible media organisations rather than the sensational slant in some quarters to the much needed upgrade of some of its offices.

“For clarity, the Governor’s Office, the liaison offices and lodges are in gross deplorable state since no meaningful upgrades and maintenances have been carried out on them for over a decade.

“As a People’s First Administration, it is a given that these architectural monuments should be conducive and befitting for the governor and other occupants to meaningfully serve the people optimally.

“The government urges people to focus on its palliative intervention which include but not limited to:
“i. Payment of N10,000 allowance to all workers across board for the next six months beginning from September 2023.

“ii. Re- introduction of mass transit system for inter-city travels on fairly subsidized rate for all citizens.
“Ill. Continuation of free tuition in all government-owned primary and secondary schools. Additionally, the government will sustain the payment of examination fees for SSCE for state indigenes.

“IV. My administration will provide free medical care for children under 5 and pregnant women. This will be extended to include elderly aged 60 years and above.

“V. Our farmers will be granted soft-loans and provided with fertilizer and other inputs to boost food production in the state.”