RSG Okay With 2016 Budget Execution

The Rivers State Government has said that despite the dwindling allocations to the state, the 2016 budget was fully implemented.

The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Barrister Isaac Kamalu said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt shortly after declaring open a one-day pre-budget training programme agenda.

Kamalu also said that the full implementation of the 2016 budget has attracted to the state several awards.

He said that the 2017 budget will help the state to further consolidate on its ongoing development programmes.

The commissioner charged the participants to take the workshop seriously as it was meant to sensitise them on budgeting processes with a view to enhancing transparency in the system.

Meanwhile, the commissioner has denied allegation by a civil rights organization, Social Action that copies of the state 2016 budget were not in the public domain.

He said that before the budget became a working document it went through processes, stressing that it would be wrong for anybody to say that the public was not aware of the budget.

Also speaking, the secretary of the Rivers State House of Assembly committee on public expenditure, Dr Anthony Egobueze, said that the House will continue to insist on transparency and accountability in the budgeting process.

Egobueze commended the ministry for the workshop and urged the participants to avail themselves of the workshop to improve themselves. Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Felix Odugweru urged the participants to take the workshop seriously as the state cannot afford to fail, having come a long way.

John Bibor