Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State, has assented to four new bills aimed at reforming the state’s health, education, and environmental sectors, describing the move as a major milestone in his administration’s development agenda.
The signing ceremony, held on Thursday in Calabar, was attended by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Elvert Ayambem, and other senior government officials.
Otu said the new laws were designed to address urgent public needs, particularly in strengthening healthcare delivery, improving sanitation, and expanding access to quality education.
He commended lawmakers for what he described as thorough and constructive legislative work, noting that collaboration between the executive and legislative arms had produced people-oriented policies.
A key highlight of the reforms is the establishment of the Cross River State College of Health Sciences, Management and Technology, which upgrades the former College of Health Technology into a polytechnic with expanded academic mandate and improved funding access.
The governor also signed the Cross River State Hospital Management Board Law, 2026, which creates a central structure to oversee public secondary health facilities and regulate traditional medicine practitioners under the Ministry of Health.
On environmental health, Otu assented to the Open Defecation (Prohibition) Law, 2026, making toilet facilities mandatory in homes, businesses, and public spaces, while also establishing a state task force on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).
The fourth law, the Cross River State Senior Secondary Education Board Law, 2026, creates a dedicated body to manage senior secondary schools and improve access to federal education intervention funding.
Otu said the reforms are part of a broader strategy to address socio-economic challenges such as rural-urban migration, food security, and environmental sustainability, adding that his administration remains committed to long-term development and self-reliance.
