Amaechi Presents 2012 Budget Proposal, Dec

Rivers State Government, has concluded deliberations for next year’s budget proposal and is now set to forward the bill to the State Assembly for approval next month.

The State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Ibim Semenitari gave the hint while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting that ended last Friday in Government House, Port Harcourt.

Mrs. Semenitari disclosed that the major thrust of the budget include three priority areas of primary health care, education and works, as the Governor would in the next couple of weeks present the budget officially to the State legislature.

“In the budget of 2012, one of the basic things Rivers people will see will be a completion of some of the projects that are still outstanding”, she said.

Speaking on the oncoming Rivers State Carnival (CARNIRIV), the Commissioner said the annual fiesta will officially kick-off on December 13 and will stretch to the 18th of December. On December 17, according to her, there would be a free-style street band parade.

She also said that this year’s festival would be kick-started with the hosting of Miss ECOWAS beauty pageant, adding, “it is going to be a season of celebration and we expect Rivers people to come out and enjoy themselves”.

Consequently, the State Government says it is ready to commence a new land reform policy that will encourage investors into the state.

Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs Semenitari explained that the policy was in tandem with deliberations at the just concluded Rivers Investors Forum (RIVINFEST),as she averred that ” Rivers State Executive Council has drawn lessons from what the organisers of RIVINFEST has made”.

As a result, she stated that government had commenced effort to fast-track its land approval process through the Rivers State Geographical Information System (RIVGIS),as she urged citizens who own landed properties to take advantage of the programme by surveying and registering their properties with RIVGIS for appropriate documentation and approval.