The Cross River State Government received the sum of N1.7bilion in June from the federation Account following its delisting as an oil producing state.

The Governor, Liyel Imoke disclosed this while receiving members of the children’s parliament during the international Day of the African Child celebration in Calabar

He said that of the amount N1.2billion was spent on salaries, N.3 billion to run the government while N.2billion was spent on infrastructure.

The governor observed that the only way out of the financial quagmire was for corporate bodies and citizens to pay their taxes to help in the provision of qualitative education for the children.

Imoke said that issues of street children should be handled collectively because a lot of children and parents do not know their rights, stressing that it is annoying to see children hawk as government would take punitive actions against parents or guardians who allow their children or wards to hawk on the street.

He disclosed that government intends to give mission schools some subventions to enable them provide infrastructure, but will not extend same to private schools and warned that private schools that do not meet Cross River Standard in Education will be closed down because they are expected to give good value for money collected.

The Governor said the State spends about N5 billion on the renovation of the first 60 secondary schools across the state excluding the provision of furniture, while the Special Education Centre in Calabar has been captured under 2006 renovation programme of UBE which Ministry of Social Welfare will also intervene, assuring that government will continue to keep promise made as it intends to undertake its programmes in phases

Imoke remarked that he was encouraged by the children’s performance and presentation which shows that there is hope for the country and congratulated those that participated in the interactive session because they have the right to ask questions.

Mrs Obioma Imoke wife of Governor Liyel Imoke in a welcome address, said the International Day of the African Child was inaugurated by the African Union (then Organization of African Unity) in 1991 to commemorate the killing of African children in Soweto, South Africa during a demonstration in 1976.

Mrs. Imoke, who was represented by Mrs Glory Efiok Cobham wife of Mr. Efiok Cobham, Deputy Governor called on stake holders to ensure the survival of children as well as engage in the fight against all forms of child abuse, adding that the state’s programme on A State Fit For A Child (asfac) has achieved tremendous success as the governor was one of the first persons to have responded to the plight of children because the challenge posed by the out come of an investigation carried out by asfac

revealed the need to invest in the child, adding that asfac in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs had rehabilitated many children.

Mrs. Imoke disclosed that a lot of programmes were earmarked for children across the state on varied issues of interest, adding that no amount spent on a child should be regarded as a waste because such an investment prepares them to be what they will become in future while urging parents to pull resources for the good of the children.

Mr. Endurance Agbo, Speaker of the Cross River Children’s Parliament commended the governor on the passage of the Child Rights Act into Law and his wife for initiating A State Fit For A Child (asfac) while calling on Stake holders to key into it to get it right.

Agbo urged the State government to publish the Child Rights Law for everyone to understand it as well as translate it into the local dialect.

Highlights of the celebration included an address by Master George Urunwoke, winner San Marino Award 2008, mock session by the Children’s parliament, Poetry by Hope Leaders Children Foundation, Calabar and a dance sketch by Young African Stars, Enugu,