2013: RVHA Passes N490bn Budget …GPHCDA, RSSDA, TIMARIV, BoPP, Others Get Zero Vote

Rivers State House of Assembly, yesterday, passed the 2013 Appropriation Bill of N490,320,000,000 into law after considering the report of various House Standing Committees made available to the appropriation committee.

Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree, had earlier given the committees the marching order not to increase provisions made for the various sectors by the executive.

According to him, “the House is not a Father Christmas. This year, the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) should confine themselves to the envelops given to them, pointing out that the House would work within the projected estimates of the governor.

Presenting the Appropriation Committee’s report, its Acting chairman, Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry, said most of the committees requested for increased funds for the sectors, noting that the speaker had already ruled against such requests.

Harry stated that, where necessary, the governor can come to the House with a supplementary budget.

At the committee of the whole presided by the Speaker as chairman, the lawmakers took a sector-by-sector analysis of the provisions with a concurring “approved” to all the allocations as stated in the budget presented by the executive.

However, the chairman indicated that the following agencies of government had zero allocations, listing the agencies to include Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority (GPHCDA), Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), New Rivers State University of Science And Technology, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BoPP), Tourism Development Agency.

Others include Rivers State Traffic Management Authority (TIMARIV), Livestock and Veterinary Services, Port Harcourt Water Corporation, Bureau of Public Private Partnership, Rivers State Protection Agency, among others.

Having passed the 2013 Appropriation Bill, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Amachree thanked members for their co-operation, assuring that the government recognises their sacrifices to ensure quick passage of the budget.

In a motion adjourning the House to February 4, 2013, the Leader of the Assembly, Hon. Chidi Lloyd, lauded the speaker and other members for their commitment to selfless service to the people of the state.

It would be recalled that Governor Chibuike Amaechi had presented N490 billion budget estimates to the lawmakers on December 24, 2012.

The budget was eventually passed yesterday without any increase or reduction by the Assembly.

Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree (left), former Speaker, Rt. Hon Tonye Harry (middle) and Leder of the House, Hon. Chidi Lloyd, scrutinising the 2013 Appropriation Bill prior to its passage, yesterday. Photo: Chris Monyanaga