In a significant stride toward enhancing governance and improving citizens’ welfare, Cross River Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, has signed three landmark bills into law.
The newly enacted legislation focuses on road infrastructure, gaming regulation, and the welfare of senior citizens, reinforcing the state government’s “People-First” policy agenda.
The laws signed include the Cross River State Road Maintenance Agency (Amendment) Law, 2025, the Cross River State Lotteries and Gaming Agency Law, 2025, and the Cross River State Senior Citizens Centre Law, 2025.
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Calabar, Governor Otu lauded the State House of Assembly for its legislative support, describing the laws as timely and pivotal to the administration’s development blueprint.
“These laws reflect our commitment to prioritizing the needs of the people,” the governor stated.
“The amendment to the Road Maintenance Agency Law ensures our roads receive consistent attention, while the Gaming Agency Law will help regulate the sector and boost our internally generated revenue. The establishment of the Senior Citizens Centre affirms our resolve to care for the elderly and vulnerable among us.”
Providing further insight into the new laws, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem explained that the amended Road Maintenance Agency Law mandates each of the state’s 18 local government councils to contribute 4% of their monthly Federation Account allocations to fund road maintenance. This, he noted, will ensure sustainable infrastructure upkeep across the state.
On the Senior Citizens Centre Law, the Speaker said the legislation provides for the creation of a central facility in each of the state’s three senatorial districts—starting in Calabar—to cater to the needs of retired and elderly citizens. Additional support centres will be established in all local government headquarters to extend the reach of welfare services.
The Lotteries and Gaming Agency Law, according to the Speaker, is a comprehensive legal framework comprising 12 parts, 102 sections, and two schedules. It aligns with a recent Supreme Court ruling allowing states to regulate gaming activities and seeks to streamline the licensing, regulation, and revenue generation from the gaming industry in Cross River State.
Governor Otu reaffirmed that the laws represent strategic steps toward infrastructure renewal, economic reform, and social inclusion. “This is governance with a human face,” he said. “Our people deserve policies and laws that uplift and protect them.”
The legislation is expected to have far-reaching impacts on the state’s development trajectory, strengthening transparency, economic efficiency, and inclusive governance.
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