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Wike Presents N510bn 2018 Budget To Assembly …As 2017 Budget Records 74% Performance
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has presented the 2018 Appropriation Bill of N510billion to the Rivers State House of Assembly for consideration and subsequent approval.
Christened the “Budget of Consolidation, Advancement and Empowerment”, Wike said the budget will consolidate and advance the state’s investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and security, as well as in growing the economy to create jobs and empower the people.
Presenting the budget proposal to the House, yesterday, the governor said the proposed 2018 Rivers State Budget has N379, 997, 687, 404.00 as capital expenditure, while N132 billion will be used for recurrent expenditure.
He said: “This gives a capital to recurrent expenditure ratio of 75 to 25 per cent respectively. The substantial increase in capital over recurrent expenditure, once again, underscores our commitment to direct substantial resources to the critical growth sectors of our economy.”
Wike said the 2018 budget will be funded from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) N40billion; 13 per cent oil minerals fund of N120billion; Value Added Tax inflow of N6billion; Internally Generated Revenue of N132billion; reimbursements amounting to N70billion; Domestic/International Credits of N70billion; and Capital receipts N20billion.
The governor stated that a total portfolio of N90billion and N35billion have been allocated to the Ministry of Works and the Special Projects Bureau, respectively, to fund the delivery of capital projects in the 2018 budget.
He said that the administration was committed to the completion of key projects in different parts of the state.
The projects include: Dualisation of Saapkenwa–Bori road; Dualisation of Slaughter–Trans Amadi–Garrison road; Dualisation of Elelenwo–Akpajo road; Dualisation of Oil Mill–Woji–Elelenwo–Akpajo road; Dualisation of Prof Tam David-West (Obiri Ikwerre–Airport) road; the Andoni–Opobo section of the Unity road.
Others include internal road networks in Abonnema in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area; Amadi-Ama in Port Harcourt Local Government Area; Okochiri in Okrika Local Government Area; Elele and Isiokpo in Ikwerre Local Government Area; among others.
Other key projects also earmarked for delivery in 2018 include Bonny–Bille Waterside Jetty; Mile One Market, Phase 2; reclamation works in Abalama in Asari-Toru Local Government Area; Ogu town in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area; Bakana in Degema Local Government Area; and Ogbunabali in Port Harcourt Local Government Area.
The rest include constituency projects such as Real Madrid Football Academy; luxury living quarters for judicial officers from the state, among other projects; and the cinema and restaurant project in the Port Harcourt Pleasure Park.
The governor added: “We shall also start some new projects, including the Women Development Centre, the new world-class international conference centre, and roads.”
On education, Wike said: “We are devoting N50billion to fund the education sector for the 2018 fiscal year. This sum is N20billion more than that of 2017.
“In addition, we have proposed a capital grant of N500million to each of our tertiary institutions to bolster infrastructural development and improve quality.
“Apart from proposing the sum of N2billion for the provision of scholarships for critical areas of the state’s manpower needs, we have also proposed to set aside another N2billion to partner, encourage and support the development of private universities and improve access to tertiary education for Rivers indigenes in the state,” the governor added.
Wike stated that his administration was “Providing the sum of N30billion in 2018 to enhance all aspects of the healthcare delivery system in the state, including the provision of health infrastructure for health institutions, recruitment and training of medical doctors and other healthcare personnel, refurbishing and equipping our primary healthcare centres, providing vaccines for routine immunization against child-killer diseases, as well as in carrying out education and sensitization programmes on reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child healthcare”.
On security, Wike said that the state government will continue to invest heavily in the security of lives and property through the funding of security agencies and provision of logistics for them to effectively secure the state.
He said: “We have also approved the establishment of the Rivers State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (RSNSC) to further enhance the security in the state. When fully established and operational, the corps will have the responsibility to collaborate with the security agencies to combat crime and cultism in our communities and neighbourhoods.
“The State Executive Council has already approved the bill to give effect to this initiative, which we shall soon transmit for the consideration of the House of Assembly and passing into law. The N22billion we have proposed in the 2018 budget for security operations will also take care of the setting-up and operationalisation of this agency,” Wike added.
In order to tackle high level of youth unemployment and poverty, the governor said that empowerment has been prioritised in 2018.
Wike proposed N6billion for employment generation, N7billion for women development and N2 billion to support youth development.
He added that the state government will inject N1billion into the state’s Microfinance Agency (RIMA) to provide loans and support the development of small-scale enterprises in the state.
The governor said that sports development will be funded by the state government in 2018, noting that the Real Madrid Football Academy will come on stream.
He said: “We will also continue to fund the state’s football teams and support them to win laurels at national and continental levels for the state. For these and other activities for a comprehensive development of sports in the state, we propose to spend N2.5billion for fiscal year 2018.”
The governor said that investments in the administration of justice and the justice sector will be sustained.
He said that N4.350billion has been allocated to the law and justice sector.
The state chief executive said the administration decided to renew and strengthen her partnership with the church of God in the state by proposing to establish a Trust Fund for the church to administer to its needs.
“The sum of N1billion has been proposed under this budget for this purpose,” he noted.
Wike said that in the past two and a half years, the administration has demonstrated that it is committed to solving the problems it inherited and advance the overall wellbeing of the people.
He said: “For us, our state deserves meaningful development and we must, as a government, continue to do our best to deliver to our people. That is why we are offering a realistic budget for 2018, which takes a balanced and pragmatic approach towards solving the developmental challenges of our state and take it to the next level of transformation.”
It would be recalled that the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike proposed a Budget of N470billion for 2017.
The 2017 budget recorded about 74 per cent performance, which was a significant improvement over that of 2016.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Ikunyi-Owaji Ibani assured the people of Rivers State that the state Assembly will continue to support the Executive to deliver the development of the state.
Ibani said an analysis of the 2018 Budget shows that the Rivers State governor will consolidate on development in different sectors of the state’s economy.
He said that the state House of Assembly will treat the budget expeditiously, but stated that due process will be followed.
According to the speaker, “Only a pathological fault finder will not see the good works of the Rivers State governor. The governor has performed creditably well”.
The Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has assured the commitment of Rivers State government to workers’s welfare and industrial harmony in Rivers State.
The Sole Administrator gave the assurance after meeting with leadership of organized labour unions at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
Ibas reaffirmed government’s policy of prompt payment of salaries and pensions to workers and retirees, stating that all local government employees are not receiving the approved minimum wage.
He disclosed that approval has been given for payment of newly employed staff at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital and the Judiciary, while medical workers in Local Government Areas will now receive correct wages.
Ibas explained that, Government is reviewing implementation challenges of the Contributory Pension Scheme ahead of the July 2025 deadline, adding that Intervention buses have been reintroduced to ease workers’ transportation ,with plans to expand the fleet.
He said specialized leadership training for top civil servants will commence within two weeks, while due consideration is being given to implementing the N32,000 consequential adjustment for pensioners and clearing outstanding gratuities.
Ibas commended Rivers State workers for their dedication to service and called for sustained partnership with labour unions to maintain industrial peace.
“This administration recognizes workers as critical partners in development. We remain committed to addressing your legitimate concerns within available resources,” he stated.
The State NLC Chairman, Comrade Alex Agwanwor, thanked the Administrator for the steps taken so far with regard to workers welfare while appreciating his disposition towards alleviating the transportation problem faced by workers.
He also expressed appreciation for the government’s openness to dialogue and pledged continued cooperation towards achieving mutual goals.
The Rivers State Government assured all workers of its unwavering commitment to their welfare and called for continued dedication to service delivery for the collective progress of our dear State.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Rivers Council, has called for policies that will improve the economic situation of the country in order to ensure enhanced living standard for workers.
The State Chairman, Mr Alex Agwanwor, made the remark on behalf of the unions affiliated to Labour Congress during the 2025 workers day celebration in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Agwanwor highlighted the demands of the Unions which included the immediate payment of pension arrears, implementation of the N32,000 minimum wage for pensioners, and payment of gratuities and death benefits without further delay.
“We are calling for the regulation and protection of e-hailing drivers, implementation of increments and promotions, and resolution of long-standing issues in the polytechnic sector,” he said.
Agwanwor on behalf of the unions appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reinstate the democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
He stressed the importance of democratic governance and good working relationship with elected representatives.
According to him, the unions expressed disappointment over the imposition of taxes, increase in electricity tariff, and high cost of goods and services, which have further worsened the plight of workers.
“We urge the federal government to take measures to alleviate the suffering of citizens,” he said.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima says President Bola Tinubu is committed to unlocking Nigeria’s full potential and position the country as a leading force on the African continent.
Shettima stated this when he hosted a delegation from the Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, led by its Senior Fellow, Dr Rolf Alter, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja last Wednesday.
He said Nigeria was actively seeking expertise from the global best institutions to enhance policy formulation and implementation, particularly in human capital development.
The Vice-President noted that President Tinubu was determined to elevate Nigeria to its rightful position as a leading force in Africa.
“The current crop of leadership in Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is ready and willing to unleash the full potential of the Nigerian nation on the African continent.
” We are laying the groundwork through strategic reforms, and at the heart of it, is human capital development.”
He described the Hertie School as a valuable partner in the journey.
According to him, Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, has track record and institutional knowledge to add value to our policy formulation and delivery, especially in this disruptive age.
Shettima reiterated the government’s priority on upskilling Nigerians, saying ” skills are very important, and with our Human Capital Development (HCD) 2.0 programme.
“We are in a position to unleash the full potential of the Nigerian people by enhancing their capital skills.”
The Vice-President acknowledged the vital support of international development partners in that effort.
” I want to thank the World Bank, the European Union, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and all our partners in that drive to add value to the Nigerian nation,” he maintained.
The Vice-President said human capital development was both an economic imperative and a social necessity.
Shettima assured the delegation of the government’s readiness to deepen cooperation.
” We need the skills and the capacity from your school. The world is now knowledge-driven.
“I wish to implore you to have a very warm and robust partnership with the government and people of Nigeria.”
Shettima further explained recent economic decisions of the government, including fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms.
“The removal of fuel subsidy, the unification of the exchange rate regime and the revolution in the energy sector are all painful processes, but at the end of the day, the Nigerian people will laugh last.
“President Tinubu is a very modern leader who is willing to take far-reaching, courageous decisions to reposition the Nigerian economy,” he added.
Earlier, Alter, congratulated the Tinubu administration for the successful launch and implementation of the Human Capital Development (HCD) strategy.
The group leader described the development as ambitious and targeted towards the improvement of the lives of the citizens.
He expressed satisfaction with the outcome of his engagements since arriving in the country.
He applauded the zeal, commitment, energy and goodwill observed among stakeholders in the implementation of Nigeria’s HCD programme.
Alter said the Hertie School of Governance would work closely with authorities in Nigeria across different levels to deliver programmes specifically designed to address the unique needs of the country.
He, however, stressed the need for government officials at different levels to be agile and amenable to the dynamics of the evolving world, particularly as Nigeria attempted to successfully accelerate its human capital development aspirations.