News

Jonathan Signs N4.99trn 2013 Budget

Published

13 years ago

February 27, 2013

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday approved N4.99 trillion ($31.63 billion) budget passed by the National Assembly in December, the Presidency said, ending two months of dispute over the spending plan.

“Following consultations and an agreement between the Executive and the Legislature on the 2013 Appropriation Bill, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday signed the bill into law,” a statement from the presidency said.

“As part of the understanding reached with its leadership, the observations of the executive arm … will be further considered by the National Assembly through legislative action.”

Meanwhile, in a bid to douse speculations over alleged face off between the Presidency and the National Assembly on the delayed Presidential assent to the 2013 Appropriation Act, the Senate, yesterday publicly declared that both arms of government were on the same page on the matter.

Addressing the press after plenary yesterday , the Senate’s spokesperson and Chairman, Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, said all grey areas and knotty. Issues had been sufficiently resolved.

His words ”All the issues that have come out on this budget have been resolved and we think that in the shortest possible time, the budget would be signed by the President and implementation will begin. So, there is nothing like overriding any veto or any such thing. That is not what the Senate has resolved in any way”.

Senator Abaribe also emphasised that the budget was delayed due to Senators’ position on constituency projects, stressing that the National Assembly was not in a position to award contracts or execute constituency projects as some members of the public insinuated.

He continued, “for those who are not aware, there is always a specific amount of money and that does not equate to padding. What we do with the constituency project is that there is a specific fund kept aside so that members of National Assembly can also bring things to their various constituencies. When there is announcement that people should bring their projects, it is also within a particular volume of fund and it is expended by various ministries. So, I don’t think that whatever problem they had with the budget had anything to do with constituency projects.

“May be, we have to address this matter in a much more elaborate manner so that Nigerians are appraised of what is going on here. There is the tendency to think that when you mention constituency projects, that Senators or members of House of Representatives in any way are given funds to spend. But do you know that it is not true?

According to Abaribe , the lawmakers do not pry into who carries out the constituency projects but is only interested in where such projects are sited.

The senate’s spokesman also denied allegations that the budget proposal for 2013 was padded by lawmakers..

Abaribe also emphasised that the power to appropriate budget lay squarely with the National Assembly and never the Executive.

“In other words, what the Executive brings is a proposal and it is up to the National Assembly to accept the proposal or modify it in some way and when that happens, necessarily, there must be differences. When you have those differences, we hold meetings for resolution of those differences and when they are resolved, we just move on,” he stated.

Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi,Abuja

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

4 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.

This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”

She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.

As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.

A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.

Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.

The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.

By John Bibor

News

Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

Published

4 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.

On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.

Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.

It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.

The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.

Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.

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News

Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

Published

4 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.

The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.

According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.

The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.

It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.

The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.

Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.