By joshua 
Gov. Otu Resumes Students’ Bursaries, Unveils Medical Grants
Cross River State governor, Senator Bassey Otu, Thursday, announced the resumption of bursary payments to Cross River students in tertiary institutions, alongside the introduction of special grants for medical students, in what he described as part of his administration’s renewed commitment to education, human capital development and the future of the state.
The governor made the announcement during the State Executive Council meeting held in Calabar, where he addressed members of the Executive Council on the administration’s next phase of governance, political engagement and developmental priorities.
Speaking passionately on the need to strengthen investment in young people, Governor Otu declared that no Cross River student should be forced to abandon academic aspirations because of financial hardship, noting that the intervention would mark the return of educational support schemes that had remained dormant for more than a decade.
“In line with our commitment to invest in the future of Cross River State, I am pleased to announce that my administration will resume the payment of bursaries to Cross River students in tertiary institutions in the coming months,” the Governor stated.
“Additionally, we will introduce special grants for our medical students to support their training and ease the financial burden of their studies. This intervention had not happened in over a decade. It is our way of reaffirming that education remains a top priority, and that no Cross River student should be forced to abandon their dreams due to financial constraints,” he added.
The announcement drew widespread applause as one of the major highlights of the Council meeting, with the Governor also unveiling a broader policy direction that would focus on revitalizing critical sectors including health, education and power.
Governor Otu acknowledged that while the administration had recorded notable strides since assuming office in May 2023, there remained areas requiring renewed commitment and strategic attention.
“I must acknowledge the fact that we may not have performed to the level of our expectation in some sectors. As a result, we shall renew our energies and attention to new areas of focus, namely: Health, Education and Power, among others,” he said.
The Governor used the occasion to appreciate members of the State Executive Council for their resilience, patience and dedication to governance.
He paid glowing tribute to the Deputy Governor, Peter Odey, for what he described as effective leadership and stability during the period.
“I must specially thank His Excellency, the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, for ably standing in for me during my period of absence,” the Governor said.
The Governor, however, stressed that one of the most critical assignments undertaken during the period was the sustained pursuit of the restoration of Cross River State’s oil wells, describing the battle as intense, strategic and central to the economic future of the state.
“One of the most important assignments I undertook was to keep up with the spirited struggles for the recovery of our oil wells. This very vexed issue requires daily follow-ups in Abuja and it is not an issue that should be ignored at all,” he declared.
“A struggle of that magnitude demands our every attention, consultations with stakeholders and of course, those who will assist us in recovering our God-given resources.”
In one of the most vivid metaphors of his speech, Governor Otu likened the forces resisting the state’s efforts to “wounded lions,” insisting, however, that Cross River would ultimately emerge victorious from the negotiations.
“It is a spirited struggle against already established odds and we are confronting wounded lions, not mere galloping antelopes, but I can confidently assure you that at the end of the negotiations and resolution of the issues concerned, Cross River State will have cause to smile again as an oil-bearing state in Nigeria,” he said.
As political activities gather momentum nationwide, the Governor directed Commissioners and heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies to immediately forward comprehensive scorecards of their stewardship to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government ahead of the administration’s third anniversary.
According to him, only three MDAs had complied with the earlier directive, a development he openly expressed dissatisfaction over.
“With the formal commencement of political activities in the country, I want to use this opportunity to remind all Commissioners and Directors-General of the last directives for them to forward their charts of achievements in the past years to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the State for proper coordination,” he stated.
Governor Otu disclosed that his administration would soon commence inspection and commissioning of completed projects across the eighteen local government areas of the state, while simultaneously unveiling new blueprints and groundbreaking initiatives in some communities.
“We shall also use the opportunity to present a blueprint as well as undertake the groundbreaking of projects in some Local Government Areas that have not had a good share of development projects so far,” he said.
“As we approach the electorate and ask for their votes once again, it is only expected that we, as an administration, show them our stewardship in the past three years and where we intend to take the state to in the years ahead.”
The Governor thereafter charged political appointees and members of the Executive Council to deepen grassroots engagement through regular consultations, community visits and direct interaction with citizens.
“Consequently, I expect all Honourable Commissioners and other political appointees to step up their connections with the people at the grassroots through assistance, home visits, meetings and other forms of interactions,” he said.
“All these will necessarily pave the way for seamless political activities and assurances of electoral successes and victories.”
On the controversial recruitment exercise into the Unified Local Government Service, Governor Otu reiterated his administration’s zero tolerance for abuse of due process and misconduct in public service. He recalled that following widespread complaints and public outrage over the recruitment exercise, government dissolved the leadership of the Commission and constituted a five-member panel of inquiry to investigate the matter.
“Government noticed a serious breach of directives in the recruitment of staff of the Unified Local Government Service. Following this, the Chairman and Members of the Commission were relieved of their duties,” he stated.
According to him, the panel was mandated to review the procedures surrounding the recruitment process, audit payroll structures across the eighteen local government areas and recommend disciplinary measures where necessary.
“The Panel, according to him, is to, among other things, review the propriety and procedures that shaped the recruitment exercise, scrutinize and audit Local Government payrolls to ascertain the true position of expenditure in the 18 Local Government Areas and to recommend disciplinary action, among others,” he explained.
The Governor maintained that the action became imperative due to what he described as “relentless complaints and unbearable public outcry” surrounding the exercise.
“For the umpteenth time, I must reiterate that our administration is on a redemptive mission in the state,” he declared.
“Government therefore intends to be very hard on anyone found guilty in the mess that occurred in the Local Government Service Commission. This threw a pall of dark light on our administration, by collecting monies from unemployed young Cross Riverians, against our People First Philosophy.”
Governor Otu also called on members of the Executive Council to maintain discipline, accountability and balance between governance responsibilities and political activities.
“Please remain committed to the realization of the mandate of your various MDAs and ultimately, the overall goals of this administration. You are hereby urged to strike a balance between your official duties and the realm of politics so that none suffers unduly,” he admonished.
In an emotional moment during the meeting, Governor Otu mourned students of the University of Cross River State who recently lost their lives in a tragic accident, describing the development as heartbreaking and painful to the state government.
“My heart goes out to the families, friends and the entire University of Cross River State community over the tragic and untimely death of our students,” he lamented.
“On behalf of the government and people of Cross River State, I extend our deepest condolences and assure you that we share in the grief.”
The Governor further announced that the state government would assume full responsibility for the hospital bills of injured students while providing support packages to bereaved families.
“As a government that values the lives of our young people, we will take full responsibility for the hospital bills of all students affected by this accident. No family should bear the financial burden of this tragedy,” he assured.
“For the families of the departed, government will send a condolence purse to stand with them in their grief and offer immediate support.”
SOURCE: GOVERNMENT HOUSE PRESS CALABAR