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Group Flays Bayelsa’s 2012 Budget Performance
A Non-Governmental Organisation has taken a retrospective view at the performance of the Bayelsa State budget for last year and cautioned the officials of the state government to take steps to correct lapses when implementing the 2013 budget.
Briefing journalists in Yenagoa, the Executive Director of African Leadership, Strategy and Development Centre (LSD), Dr Otive Igbuzor expressed worries that the level of recurrent expenditure including the over head cost in relation to personnel cost in the state increased from 40 percent in 2011 to 49 percent in 2012.
‘’A state with grossly inadequate social amenities and a high level of poverty evidenced by poor health and high child mortality rate inluding high levels of unemployment; should have more of the budget expenditure directed to capital projects’’
Dr Igbuzor who was represented at the press briefing by the Programme Officer of the Organisation, Mr Monday Osasah remarked that while the capital allocations may to some extent have reflected state agenda and MDGs priorities, it is important to ensure proportionality between allocations to personnel and overhead too.
The organisation remarked that in terms of actual implementation of the budget in 2012, its field officers discovered that in all sites visited non-release of fund for project execution was inherent, except in Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources where the sum N10 million was released for farmers’ data and Works where the sum of N7 billion was release for the dualisation of Azikoro, Sani Abacha Express, and Edepie/Tombia roads.
Igbuzor also noted that “repetitions of line items with same amounts abound in almost every MDA in the state which shows lack of transparency and weak legislative oversight function both at the enactment/approval and monitoring/evaluaion stages of the budget proces; the state budget still follows the incremental budgeting approach instead of zero budgeting; as a result there is lack of linkage betgween the state budget and the state policy at the general and sectoral levels’’.
The Centre LSD director recommended that in order to make the 2013 budget different, government should partner with Civil Society Organisations to undertake needs assessment that will feed into both LGAs and State budgets, carry out periodic monitoring exercise to assess level of implementation by MDAs, while relevant information should also be made available to citizens for easy tracking of projects.
They also advocate for enhanced efficiency in public expenditure management by strenghtening the capacuty of government institutions such as the Budget Office while the State Assembly should be further built to enable them carry out effective oversights functions.
Expressing gratitude to the state government for giving them opportunity to carry out the project of budget monitoring, the organisation further recommended that economic diversification should be emphasised through the development of the agro-allied processing, manufacturing and other non-oil sectors as to achieve a broader based employment generating and wealth creation economy.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
