N19bn: We’ll Use It For Salaries, Projects -Amaechi

Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi says the N19billion recently released from the state savings will be targeted at paying salaries and completion of ongoing projects.
He told newsmen shortly after arriving from Abuja yesterday in Port Harcourt that the N19billion reserve fund approved by the state House of Assembly was the last resort to cushion the poor state receipts from the federal allocation.
“The rate of stealing at the federal level is so alarming that we cannot pay salaries. You should know that most states are facing challenges paying salaries and that is what APC governors said in their last meeting.
“So, the first thing is to pay salaries of workers after that we will go back to roads. The same people who think we can’t complete roads, but we are completing them…We will work until May 29th”, the governor reiterated.
Some of the roads listed by the governor include Elioparanwo,  Rumuahorlo and other ongoing roads projects.
He added, “We did not promise that we will finish all the roads. If you compare what we have done in eight years, and the eight years others have spent, it will show you what we have done.”
Amaechi also hinted of using part of the money to complete the furnishing of some Model Primary Schools, and the Free Medical Health Scheme.
On the Free Medical Health Scheme, he admitted that the programme was facing funding problems as a result of poor allocation from the federal government.
The governor said the state government was proactive in saving N1billion every month, reasoning that there could be a rainy day.
“I foresaw that there could be a period when government would not have money. There could be financial challenges hence we saved money, but we did not envisage the fact that corruption could be uncontrollable. The level of impunity the people are stealing money and the police is helpless and could not do anything; police is even part of the system.”
On the level of preparedness for the Mega Rally on Saturday, Governor Amaechi expressed satisfaction on the level of planning by the different committees, saying facilities in the stadium are world class, while hinting of more expansion considering the fact that the stadium occupies 15 hectares of land.
Consequently, Governor Amaechi has expressed fears that the Nigeria economy is near collapse.
He told newsmen shortly after inspecting the New Stadium at Greater Port Harcourt City on yesterday that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy should explain to Nigerians why the country is short of funds.
“Stealing in Nigeria is now at Industrial scale that we no longer have money. The Minister of Finance said we are not broke so if we are not broke what is happening to our money? The governors are saying pay us our money if you say we are not broke,” Amaechi emphasized.

Prof Ikem Kris Eloka Ekweozor presenting inaugural lecture book to the Vice Chancellor, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harourt, Prof B.B Fakae at the Amphi- Theatre of the institution on wednesday