"Cross River Spent N1.18bn on Education in Three Years" — Commissioner

The Cross River State Government has disclosed that it spent over N1.18 billion on education-related interventions within the last three years under the administration of Governor Bassey Otu.

The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Stephen Odey, made the disclosure during an interactive session with journalists in Calabar, where he highlighted achievements recorded in the sector since the current administration assumed office.

According to the commissioner, the government funded the registration of thousands of students for external examinations between 2024 and 2026. He explained that 16,301 students were registered in 2024, while 14,804 students benefited in 2025. For the 2026 academic year, 12,589 students were registered, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 43,694 students at a cumulative cost of N1.179 billion.

Odey also praised the state's performance in the 2024 National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations, noting that Cross River achieved a 76.05 percent pass rate in five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics. He said the performance placed the state fourth among the top-performing states in the country.

As part of efforts to improve foundational learning, the commissioner revealed that Governor Otu approved more than N4.1 billion for the printing and distribution of literacy and numeracy textbooks as well as teachers' guides under the World Bank-supported HOPE Programme. The initiative reportedly provided 209,530 textbooks and 23,504 teachers' guides to public primary schools across the state.

He stated that the distribution process was monitored through a digital tracking system designed to ensure transparency and accountability in the delivery of educational materials.

The commissioner further highlighted other reforms undertaken by the administration, including the digitalisation of the Ministry of Education, the hosting of the 2024 National Joint Consultative Committee on Education meeting in Calabar, the establishment of the University of Education and Entrepreneurship in Akamkpa, and increased subventions to the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS).

Additional milestones, according to him, include the enactment of the Senior Secondary Education Board Law 2026, approval for a new Federal Technical College in Akansoko, Akpabuyo Local Government Area, and investments in staff welfare, quality assurance, and manpower development.

The disclosure comes amid ongoing debates over public spending priorities in Cross River State, particularly after reports indicated that several social sectors recorded little or no capital releases during parts of the state's recent budget implementation cycle.