Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu has signed four transformative bills into law to boost the health and education sectors.
The move is also aimed at improving sanitation and the overall quality of life of the people.
Highlights of the new legal frameworks included the establishment of the Cross River State College of Health Sciences, Management and Technology, which replaces the former College of Health Technology and upgrades it to a polytechnic with a broader academic mandate.
The move is expected to boost training capacity in health and related fields, while also unlocking access to funding opportunities and aligning the institution with national standards.
Another reform in the health sector is the Cross River State Hospital Management Board Law, 2026, which creates a central body to oversee public secondary health facilities and introduces management committees for general hospitals.
This law provides for the regulation and registration of traditional medical practitioners, bringing them under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Health for optimal service delivery.
On the environment, Governor Otu signed the Open Defecation (Prohibition) Law, 2026, a measure aimed at reducing waterborne diseases and improving public hygiene.
This law has made it mandatory for all homes, business premises and public places to install toilet facilities with provisions for gender sensitivity and accessibility for persons with disabilities.
The law also establishes a State Task Group on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) to ensure compliance and enforcement.
Lastly, the Cross River State Senior Secondary Education Board Law, 2026, has created a dedicated board to manage state-owned senior secondary schools.
The new law clearly lays out the administrative guidelines, which position the Cross River State as a beneficiary of the Nigerian Government’s education intervention funds.
Tackling essential needs
Speaking shortly after assenting to the bills, Governor Otu described the development as “a critical milestone in his administration’s reform agenda,’ saying “the laws were carefully designed to respond to the immediate needs of the people especially in the health sector.”
Governor Otu said, “Anything about health is not a joke. These bills will help our people because they ensure we have the right resources and options available to us.”
According to the Governor, the laws were part of a broader strategy to tackle socio-economic challenges such as rural-urban migration, food security, and environmental sustainability.
He expressed confidence that the newly signed laws would drive meaningful change, accelerate development and ultimately transform Cross River State into a more resilient and self-reliant economy.
The Governor commended the Cross River State House of Assembly and the Speaker, Elvert Ayambem, for what he described as a “thorough legislative work and constructive debates and the synergy between the two arms of government resulting to beneficial people-oriented policies.”
