Responsibilities of the office
State policy and services
Leads the state executive and implements laws through ministries and agencies, including services within state responsibility.
Budgets and public money
Presents spending proposals to the House of Assembly. Public spending must follow the Constitution, appropriation laws and other applicable rules.
Executive appointments
Nominates commissioners for confirmation by the House of Assembly and assigns portfolios within the state executive.
Legislation
Considers bills passed by the House of Assembly for assent. The Constitution also provides a procedure for the Assembly to override withheld assent.
Accountability and limits
The governor is accountable under the Constitution. Courts and the legislature have separate powers. The office does not confer personal command of the armed forces or unlimited control over federal agencies and local councils.
About Bassey Edet Otu
Bassey Edet Otu is Governor of Cross River State. His administration began on 29 May 2023, following an earlier career in business and the National Assembly.
Background and education
Otu was born on 18 October 1959 and is from Adiabo in Odukpani. He grew up in Calabar and Jos and obtained a degree from the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Calabar. Before entering politics, he worked in banking and the petroleum sector.
House of Representatives and Senate
He represented Calabar Municipality/Odukpani in the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2011. His committee work included petroleum resources. In 2011, he was elected to the Senate for Cross River South, where his responsibilities included finance and banking committee leadership.
Governor of Cross River
Otu’s state administration describes its programme as the People First agenda. The governorship gives him executive responsibilities for state policy and services, distinct from his previous legislative role. The House of Assembly continues to make state laws and scrutinise the executive.
Sources and verification
Official background and verification 1
Official background and verification 2
