Cross River state governor, Ben Ayade has signed the 2021 appriopration bill of 281 billion Naira into law.
Ayade said Covid 19 intervention and establishment of state owned polytechnic led to the increase from 277 Billion Naira to 281 as presented to the house.
The state government says from 2021 it will stop the funding of carnival to enable them extend 5% equity support to infrastructures. He insists that all carnival activities will henceforth be privatized 15years after.
The Governor says he is working hard to decouple from federal allocations, with over 20 industry built under Ayade’s government ready for operations.
Ayade says he’s preparing the Cross River state economy for the future and revealed that the federal government is insensitive to the state’s efforts, saying the 8.5billion rice seedlings purchased by the federal government is yet to be paid for.
Read Also : Gov. Ayade urges citizens to adhere strictly to Covid 19 guidelines
He said all promises made to the state to patronize Calabar garment factory is not yielding fruits.
The governor said the federal government has a role to play by encouraging Cross River in its agro industrial project which the state has keyed into.
He called on the President to ensure that Rice farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) through the Central Bank CBN pays the 8.5 billion Naira debt owed the state under the Anchor Borrowers programme through the supply of rice seeds and seedlings to them.
(Editor : Paul Akhagbemhe)
