Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has signed into law four major reform bills aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery, expanding access to education, and improving sanitation standards in the State, in a move described as a significant policy shift toward sustainable development.
The laws, assented to at the State Executive Council Chambers in Calabar, are expected to reinforce institutional frameworks across critical sectors, while deepening executive-legislative collaboration to drive inclusive growth and improve the quality of life for residents.
The newly signed legislations include the Cross River State College of Health Sciences, Management and Technology Law 2026, the Hospital Management Board Law 2026, the Open Defecation Prohibition Law 2026, and the Senior Secondary Education Board Law 2026.
The Open Defecation Prohibition Law, in particular, is part of broader efforts to tackle sanitation challenges and public health risks in the state, as open defecation has been linked to the spread of water-borne diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, and typhoid.
Governor Otu describes the assent as a critical milestone in his administration’s reform agenda, noting that the laws are designed to reposition key institutions, enhance service delivery, and accelerate the state’s transition into a competitive economic hub.
Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Elvert Ayambem, while presenting the bills for assent, commended the governor’s proactive leadership, noting that it has significantly boosted legislative productivity and output.
With the new laws now in force, the Cross River State Government is expected to intensify implementation efforts across health, education, and sanitation sectors, as part of a broader strategy to deliver measurable development outcomes and improved living standards.
(Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie)
