Amaechi Presents 2013 Budget, Friday …As RVHA Passes Internal Revenue Bill

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi will on Friday December 21, 2012, present the 2013 Appropriation Bill to the State House of Assembly for consideration and approval.

This was disclosed yesterday, by the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree, during the plenary session of the House.

Hon. Amachree who told the lawmakers to be present at the next adjourned date noted that the governor had communicated the House of his intention to present next year’s budget on Friday.

The Tide learnt that the delay in the presentation of next year’s budget was due to some unforeseen circumstances that has engaged the attention of the governor in the past one month.

As the much expected Appropriation bill comes on stream, Rivers people would be anxious to see allocations in critical sectors of the economy if the aspirations of the present administration would be realised.

Meanwhile, the House has unanimously passed the bill for a law to repeal and re-enact the Rivers State Board of Internal Revenue Law Cap 16, Law of Rivers State of Nigeria. This followed the presentation of the report by the House Committee on Finance and subsequent debate by the lawmakers.

In his contribution to the debate, Hon. Michael Okey-Chinda, representing Obio/Akpor Constituency II, said the appointees of the Board should go through screening and opposed the clause granting autonomy to the board.

Hon. Chinda suggested that Section 24(e) of the report should be expunged from the bill and advised the House to pass the bill after reflecting the changes.

Augustine Ngo, representing Abua/Odual Constituency said the word subsistence should be replaced with remuneration and suggested that the tenure of five years should be replaced with four years to tally with the tenure of other boards in the state.

President Goodluck Jonathan (left) being decorated with the 2013 Armed Forces Remembrance Emblem by the National Chairman, Nigeria Legion, Retired Col Micah Gaiya, during the Appeal Launch for the 2013 Armed Forces/Rememberance Day Celebration, in Abuja, yesterday.