News
Hope Fades On 2014 Budget Presentation
Hope for possible presentation of the 2014 Budget by President Goodluck Jonathan to the joint session of the National Assembly this year, may have been lost completely due to indefinite adjournment of conference committee of both the Senate and the House of Representatives on harmonization of oil benchmark for the budget.
In a text message to that effect late yesterday evening, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Eyinnaya Abaribe said the last meeting of the conference committee Thursday evening, ended in stalemate over differential oil bench marks proposal for the budget between the senate and the House of Representatives members.
Abaribe who is also a member of the committee said: “The last meeting of the conference committee ended in stalemate. There was no agreement because despite the Senate members of the committee shifting to $77per barrel as oil benchmark for the budget from the previous position of $76.5 per barrel, Hon Members from the House remained adamant on their earlier proposed $79per barrel which resulted into adjournment of the meeting sine die (indefinitely).”
This is a worrying development that is foreclosing possible presentation of the budget this year, more so, as the National Assembly winds up legislative activities for this year next Thursday, December 19, 2013.
Before the indefinite adjournment, the committee had met twice, Tuesday and Wednesday to find a common ground for the oil benchmark for the budget, but twice, the meeting ended in deadlock.
The Executive had proposed an oil benchmark of $74 per barrel for the budget, but the Senate and House of Representatives fixed it at $76.5 and $79 respectively.
The disagreement between the two chambers forced President Jonathan not to present the budget on Tuesday November 19th 2013 for the two chambers to harmonize their positions.
It would be recalled that when the committee met on Wednesday this week, following the disagreement between the two chambers and the insistence of each chamber on its earlier position, members of House of Representatives reportedly walked out on the senate.
Another source privy to the meeting said that after heated argument and pleading for the House of Representatives to shift ground from their position and it could not work out, the committee “adjourned sine die.”
According to the source, “what this portends is that the 2014 budget will not be presented till next year.”
President Jonathan had attributed his failure to address the joint session of the National Assembly to the disagreement on the oil benchmark as the reason and advised the two chambers to harmonize their positions.
The budget presentation suffered setback twice on November 12, where it was claimed that the non passage of the MTEF and Fiscal Strategy Paper by the two chambers and again on November 19, where the disagreement between the two chambers on the oil benchmark was given as the reason.
The reason adduced for the first postponement was in respect of Section 18 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act which stated that, “Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Act, the Medium Term Expenditure Framework shall be the basis for the preparation of the estimates of revenue and expenditure required to be prepared and laid before the National Assembly under Section 81 (1) of the Constitution.
“The sectoral and compositional distribution of the estimates of the expenditure referred to in Subsection 1 of this section shall be consistent with the medium term developmental priorities set out in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework.
It was expected that after the passage of MTEF and FSP, President Jonathan would have easy ride in the proposed budget presentation but that was not to be as the President cited non harmonization of oil benchmark between the two chambers as the reason behind the non presentation.
At the November 19, botched presentation, in his letter to the Senate, with the title, ‘Re-2014 Budget’, President Jonathan recalled that he had earlier written to the Senate to grant him the slot of 12 noon to enable him address a Joint Session of the National Assembly on the budget.
“However, considering the fact whereas the distinguished senate has approved the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, based on a benchmark of $76.5 per barrel, the Honorable House of Representatives has used a benchmark of $79 per barrel, it is infeasible for me to present the budget in the absence of a harmonized position on the MTEF.
“In the circumstance, it has become necessary to defer the presentation of the 2014 Budget to a Joint Session of the National Assembly until such a time when both respected chambers would have harmonized their positions on the MTEF. It is my hope that this will be in the shortest possible time,” the President said.
News
PDP Opobo/Nkoro Hails Fubara On Peace, Projects
Stakeholders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Opobo/ Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State have commended the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for his disposition that has fostered peace in the State.
Rising from an expanded stakeholders meeting last Saturday in Opobo Town, the body in an eight-point communique signed by its Chairman, Hon. Benneth Daminabo, Chairman of Council, Rt. Hon. Enyiada Cookey-Gam and LG party Chairman, Warisenibo Godwin Pepple commended the governor for linking Opobo/Nkoro LGA to the national grid.
In addition, it lauded the effort of the governor in pursuing the 50.15 kilometre Dual Carriage Ring Road, Elelenwo internal road, Aleto-Ebubu-Eteo Road in Eleme and Andoni Road projects.
Despite the distractions, the stakeholders said they were impressed that the governor had equally done projects in health-the unveiling of Prof. Kelsey Harrison Hospital, Agric projects at Tai and Oyigbo and improving welfare of civil servants.
In their words, “members reaffirmed their unalloyed loyalty and implicit confidence in his administration.”
Condemning the unfriendly and discourteous utterances of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Tony Okocha in different fora in the State, the forum urged the duo to desist from such action in order not to heat up the polity.
The forum pledged to stand by the governor through, “thick and thin”, the stakeholders acknowledged the contributions of women, who through prayers for the government has impacted positively in the direction and posture of the governor.
Finally, the forum unanimously expressed gratitude to the Simplified Movement and other bodies that have thrown their weight behind the governor to ensure that the administration is stable and successful.
By: Kevin Nengia
News
‘Rivers People Are Now Breathing Fresh Air Under Fubara’
Aformer Caretaker Committee Chairman of Abua/Odual Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon Elamo Arogu, says under Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the people of the State are now breathing fresh air.
Hon Arogu said Governor Fubara has given Rivers people hope, considering the impactful and people-oriented projects being carried out by his administration.
The former CTC chairman made the assertion during the Simplified Movement’s thanksgiving service and rally held in honour of Rivers State chief executive last Friday in Abua .
Arogu said under Governor Fubara, the Abua/Odual people have the confidence that the dividends of democracy will definitely get to them.
He noted that the Governor has the strong will to change the narrative in Rivers State, being the reason he is receiving massive support across the State.
“The people of Abua/Odual are strongly behind him. Our doors ate open for everyone because there is government in place to attend to the needs of the people. I believe that he will develop Abua/Odual and other Rivers council areas, hence, the massive support. This government is business- oriented and we are ready to encourage him succeed and invest in our land. The issue of a bank; road networks and other necessities of life bordering on development as demanded by the people will be considered by Governor Fubara”, he said.
He called on the opposition to team up with Governor Fubara to build a stronger, united and viable Rivers State.
He maintained that ward nine under his leadership is Simplified.
News
Rivers State University Cooperative Society Elects New Leaders
The United Port Harcourt Peoples Cooperative Investment & Credit Society Limited, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, has elected new leaders to pilot the affairs of the cooperative for the next two years.
They are Pastor Dr. Barine Aeba (President); Dr. Gift N. Nkweke (Vice-President), Dr. Kenneth Chima Adiele (General Secretary), Victor G. Banigo (Assistant General Secretary),
Rose Yeyeda Nwosu (Treasurer), Adaku Nwogu (Financial Secretary) and Stella Ereba (Public Relations Officer).
Inaugurating the new Management Committee after a keenly contested election held recently at the University Amphitheatre, the Director of Cooperatives in Rivers State, Dr. Elizabeth Chidi-Wike, congratulated the seven-member Executive for emerging winners at the election, charging them to uphold the bye laws of the Cooperative Society and hold regular congress meetings.
Dr. Chidi-Wike used the forum to commend the outgone Management Committee for reviving the Cooperative and placing it on an enviable pedestrial.
In her remarks, the Acting Registrar of the University, Mrs. Ibimonia Sotonye Harry applauded Cooperative members for keeping faith with the Cooperative Society, stressing that the goal of the society in helping members save for retirement cannot be over emphasised.
In his valedictory speech, the outgone President, Dr. Mie-Idala Jones Amachree expressed gratitude to God for the successful completion of his four-year tenure, thanking his fellow Management Committee members who gave him the needed support that transformed the Cooperative Society.
In his acceptance address, the President, Pastor (Dr.) Barine Aeba thanked the university management for providing the enabling environment for the peaceful conduct of the election, pledging that he will fulfill all his campaign promises.
A total of 165 Cooperative members participated in the electoral exercise which was conducted by an Electoral Committee led by Engr. (Dr.) Joseph D. Enoch.
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