2013 Budget: RSG Records 74% Progress …Receives N1bn HIV Drugs Support

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, says over 70 per cent of this year’s budget has been implemented.
Governor Amaechi made the disclosure last Wednesday at a two-day sensitisation and three-week training exercise with the theme: 2014 Pre-Budget Orientation and Sensitisation Workshop on Budget Planning, Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation (BPIMS) for Ministries, Departments, Parastatals and Agencies (MDAS) in Rivers State.
He said release made so far shows that 74 per cent of the 2013 had been done effectively, which according to him, surpassed that of last year.
With works netting the highest allocation of N65billion, Amaechi noted that, “if we fail, it would not be more than 10 per cent”.
Aside works, he said key ministries such as health, education and transport had equally enjoyed full release as the administration was poised to better the lot of the populace.
While taking stock of his administration’s performance in the education sector, Amaechi said the process of budgeting, funding and implementation of projects in his administration was in line with global best practices to bring dividends of democracy to Rivers people.
“The road to Ubima will be completed; the Trans-Amadi Road is being constructed with flyovers. We have spent over 50 per cent of the Eleme Gas Power Plant, and we have paid 100 per cent for the speedy completion of the monorail project”, Amaechi said.
Meanwhile, Governor Amaechi has described monitoring and evaluation of the state budgeting system as key in the actualisation of set objectives.
“There is no budget without adequate monitoring and evaluation of your performances and activities which will drive us to where we are going “, Amaechi said.
He urged public officers and civil servants handling government funds and transactions to exhibit high level of decorum, integrity and ensure transparent and accountable stewardship in the state.
“Please, don’t cut corners with government funds, if you help us to rake in more funds, the state will earn high revenue that will enable us finish our projects on time.  For the 2013 budget, I want you (DFA’s) to take its implementation very seriously, because, I will implement the budget”, Amaechi explained.
Amaechi reassured that his administration would fund the Free Health Care Programme in other to ameliorate the challenges of the poor.
“This is because, most parents cannot afford the money for the health needs of their children, because of the prevailing economic challenges in the country”, Amaechi said.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the state Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Gogo Levi Charles said, the budgeting system adopted for the implementation of the 2013 budget was in line with international best practices to bring about accountability and good governance in the state.
Meanwhile, a humanitarian organsation , ACTLAP Children foundation, has donated anti-retroviral drugs worth about N1billion to the Rivers State Government.
About 46,000 bottles of the drug known as Trust-E brand were officially presented to the Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr Sampson Parker yesterday at the Central Medical Stores along Industry Road, Port Harcourt.
The Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Mr Bevis Paul Igbinoba said the gesture was the body’s effort in stemming the trend in HIV/AIDS, noting that ACTLAP was responding to the request of Rivers State, amongst other states, that responded to the foundation’s call for request.
Responding on behalf of the state government, Dr Parker, who described the body as philanthropist per excellence  commended the body for its humanitarian gesture.
The Health Commissioner disclosed that the state Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi, had approved that some of the drugs be giving to other neighbouring states as a way of extending assistance.
Parker said the government would shoulder the logistics involved in distributing the drugs to those who desire it using the structures already on ground.
He said the state had six sites already and would use the primary health centres across the state, adding that churches, mosques, LGAs SACA, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and other volunteers are involved in creating awareness.
He expressed optimism that the war against HIV/AIDS was about being won in the state, and stressed the need for more awareness to engender the preventive mechanism.
The health commissioner reminded those with HIV/AIDS that with effective treatment, a patient could live normal life.

L-R:Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Constituency Projects, Rep. Pally Iriase, Permanent Secretary, Special Duties and Inter-Government Affairs, Mrs Winnifred Oyo-Ita and Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Government Affairs, Alhaji Kabiru Turaki, at a stakeholders forum on the Implementation of Zonal Intervention/Constituency Projects in Abuja, yesterday.