Amaechi Signs N438bn 2012 Rivers Budget, Today

Barely 48 hours after the Rivers State House of Assembly passed the N438billion 2012 budget, The Tide can report that Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi will today sign the fiscal document into law.

The Tide confirmed that Governor Amaechi arrived Port Harcourt, yesterday from a national assignment in Abuja, in time to preside over an emergency state Executive Council meeting today.

The state Assembly had on Monday unanimously passed the 2012 budget which has  an increase of N11 billion over the original estimate of N427 billion.

The additional funds, The Tide learnt would be put in the pool to take care of unspecified projects that may arise in any ministry or agency of government.

Explaining the rationale behind the setting aside of money for unspecified projects, the Speaker noted that about N87.2billion was requested as additional budgetary allocation which was too high to be met.

Leader of the House, Hon Chidi Lloyd lauded members for their painstaking approach in addressing the items in the budget proposal, assuring that the government would implement the budget religiously.

It would be recalled that  the 2012 budget estimate of N427 billion was presented to the Assembly in December 2011, by the state Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for consideration and approval.

Chief Press Secretary to Rivers State Governor, David Iyofor, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Rivers State , Barrister Wogu Boms; Chairman Local Organising Committee on Ojukwu’s Funeral, Rivers State, Tony Chukwu and the President-General of United Igbo Community in Rivers State, O. I. Ezenekwe at the media briefing to announce the public lecture Rivers State will hold in honour of the Late Odumegwu Ojukwu in Port Harcourt, yesterday.