The Special Adviser to the State Governor on Budget, Mr Otu Otu Ita has asserted that from 2026, the State Nutrition Budget will be more robust and simplified when compared with past efforts for more clarity when tracking its performance.
Mr. Otu represented by the Director Budget in the Office Mr Ubi Benjamin Williams stated this when he granted audience to the State Technical Committee on Food Nutrition during a working visit to the Budget Department, Governor's Office ,Calabar.
Mr. Otu informed that a lot of work has already been done and Cross River State is not one of the States lacking in the expansion and inclusive budgeting in respect of Nutrition activities, admitting that His Excellency ,Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu is solidly behind the advancement of Nutrition reports and the support they received from the State House of Assembly. The Special Adviser posited that by 2026 the State Nutrition Budget will have the right tags indicating Nutrition in all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies implementing Nutrition activities, adding that they are well guided by the State Annual operational Plan.
Earlier, the Chairman, Cross State Committee on Food and Nutrition and Permanent Secretary, State Planning Commission Mr. Kingsley Ndem Eyibio reiterated that Budget tagging enhances transparency and accountability while expressing his appreciation to the Budget Office for the support and cordiality the Committee has enjoyed from the Office.
In his words, " we seek your usual support and collaboration to ensure proper tagging of nutrition activities in the Budget even beyond your office".
On her part, the State Nutrition Officer, Mrs Nkem Eyong Ubana informed that currently only Eleven States in the federation were able to do proper budget tagging of nutrition, stressing that some staff were trained on Budget tagging and appealed that all Nutrition activities should be properly tagged, emphasizing that tagging is one of the milestones to achieve in order to avoid having red on the State performance template.
She used the opportunity to appreciate Civil Society Scaling up Nutrition in Nigeria and the State Governor for their support to the Committee.
The visit featured questions and answers and group photograph. In attendance were members of the State Technical office on Food and Nutrition, officials of Civil Society Scaling up Nutrition in Nigeria and Directors and Heads of Departments in the State Budget Office, Calabar.
Iloke Egbe SPC
