Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has signed nine bills into law, allowing for restructuring across major sectors.
The signing ceremony also witnessed a unanimous endorsement from the Cross River State House of Assembly for the Governor’s outstanding achievements during his two years in office.
Speaking at the event, Governor Otu said the n new laws are tools of transformation and that each aims to improve governance and people’s lives.
The Governor commended the 10th Assembly for its dedication and high productivity.
“We assumed office in a tough economic climate marked by inflation and limited access to funds, yet we’ve managed to stay focused. These laws will directly improve governance and service delivery. We’ve ordered three new fire trucks, secured ₦4.5 billion for the upgrading of rural roads, and also restructured the security trust fund for better oversight. This is just the beginning,” he stated.
Also, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Mr Elvert Ayambem, who lauded the Governor’s performance, confirmed the Assembly’s endorsement of his second-term bid, citing his impactful leadership and progressive legislative agenda.
“Your leadership has been exemplary. In just two years, the 10th Assembly has passed 30 bills and 87 resolutions, with more than half implemented. The 9th Assembly could not match that. We are proud of what we’ve achieved together and fully endorse your re-election.”
The endorsement motion was moved by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Sylvester Agabi, and supported by the Deputy Leader of the House, Mr Davis Ettah.
The nine bills signed into law by the Governor span critical sectors such as water, health, security, infrastructure, record-keeping and environmental sustainability, reflecting the administration’s push to modernize governance in the State and address pressing developmental needs.
The new laws include the Cross River State Water Supply and Sanitation Law No. 5, 2025, which guarantees citizens’ access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services while establishing a regulatory framework for the sector.
The Cross River State Fire Fighting and Rescue Service Law No. 4, 2024 which enhances emergency response capabilities and contributes to the State’s internally generated revenue.
Also signed into law is the Cross River State Security Trust Fund (Amendment) Law No. 6, 2024, which empowers the Governor to appoint a qualified individual as Chairman, to better coordinate the State’s security operations.
Others are, the Cross River State Scraps Regulatory Agency (Amendment) Law No. 9, 2025, aimed at curbing the activities of scavengers and vandals targeting public and private property as well as the Cross River State Rural Access Road Authority Law No. 8, 2025, designed to ensure continuous attention to rural roads, especially those linking vital agricultural communities while the Cross River State Traffic Management and Regulatory Agency (Amendment) Law No. 4, 2024, clarifies the agency’s functions and addresses overlaps in motor vehicle licensing and revenue collection.
While the Cross River State Records and Archives Bureau Law No. 7, 2024 establishes an agency responsible for managing and archiving critical State documents, the Cross River State Drugs and Health Commodities Management Agency Law No. 10, 2025 strengthens the supply chain for medical essentials to both public and private healthcare facilities and promotes public-private partnerships.
Lastly, the Cross River State Forestry Research Institute (Establishment) Law No. 6, 2024 sets up an institution dedicated to forestry and environmental research, supporting academic development and sustainable resource management.
Source: FRCN, Calabar
