Politics
Speaker Hails 2019 Budget
The presentation of the 2019 Appropriation Bill was the major item of deliberation last week in the state House of Assembly.
Penultimate week, the Speaker had sued all members of the House to be present as the governor visits to present the 2019 budget.
The House had deliberated on the Rivers State Community Development bill 2018 and which has been referred to the House Committee on Judiciary for public hearing.
Last Monday, before the budget presentation by the governor, the House received a petition from members representing Khana II State Constituency Hon. Friday Nkeeh.
The petition was in disregard and flouting of labour agreement between one Eastern Enamel Limited and its employees.
Hon. Nkeeh disclosed that despite the fact that the staffers had put in services for 12-15 years, the company disengaged them without consideration to labour laws.
The petition he further stated was signed by Barrister Friday John on behalf of the workers.
Reacting to the petition, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Ibani frowned at the development and immediately referred the petition to the House committee on public petition for more scrutiny.
The House shortly after received the 2019 appropriation bill presented by the Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike. Before giving out the figures for the 2019 budget proposal, the governor noted that the 2018 budget had 79% per cent implementation success.
He admitted that though the IGR improved by 32 per cent over that of 2017, the state government is poised to exploit the revenue potentials of the state for uptimum contribution to state finances, as over 30 capital projects were delivered in 2018.
Consequently, he disclosed that the 2019 budget would gulp 480 billion and is 28 billion more than that of 2018.
Giving further breakdown of the budget, the governor stated that recurrent Expenditure would gulp N157 billion, while capital expenditure would have the lion share of N323 billion.
The state chief executive said a substantial part of the recurrent expenditure would be used to offset pensions, promotion arrears and overhead of government.
Responding, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ibani thanked the governor for the commitment he has displayed over the years in the state development.
He said: “Rivers State has taken off in the past three years, we have seen development in all sectors”.
Ibani described the budget as a document of hope saying: “ it’s the spirit embedded in the budget that gives them hope as legislators …. The cardinal objectives of the budget will enhance job opportunities, employment. As House, we will follow all rules of engagement to ensure the budget is passed.
Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has appointed Nigerian music legend, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as TuFace, as his Technical Adviser on Entertainment and Community Outreach.
In a viral video on Wednesday, Governor Alia praised TuFace for all the support towards his administration.
The Governor stated that TuFace can do more.
He stated, “On behalf of the Benue State Government and our very good people, we want to give you some more responsibility plus the ones you have been doing because you have the capacity to do some more and help us chart a way forward to improve other people’s lives and to gain more from your wisdom and advice as well.
“So, I’m pleased to announce that we will make you a Technical Adviser to the Governor on Entertainment and Community Outreach.”
Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement was made following a closed-door meeting at the Government House in Asaba on Wednesday.
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, confirmed the development in a telephone conversation with The Tide’s source.
Similarly, the defection of former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was announced on Wednesday in Asaba by Senator James Manager, following a meeting that lasted over six hours at the Government House.
Senator Manager said all PDP members in the State, including the Governor, former Governor Okowa, the Speaker, the state party chairman, and all local government chairmen, had agreed to join the APC.
“We cannot continue to be in a sinking boat,” he said.
The decision to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) followed extensive consultations with political stakeholders and was made in the interest of Delta State’s long-term development.
Governor Oborevwori, who won the 2023 gubernatorial election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was received by senior APC officials in what political analysts are already describing as a strategic realignment with far-reaching implications ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria has condemned the recent wave of killings in Plateau, Borno, Benue, Niger State and most recently, Kwara State, calling on the federal and state governments to take urgent steps to stem the tide.
Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Adebo Ogundoyin, stated this in a statement issued in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Rt Hon. Ogundoyin, who is the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, said the gruesome killings had led to tragic loss of lives, widespread displacement, and unimaginable trauma for thousands of Nigerians.
“We are alarmed by the escalating insecurity in the land and the seeming helplessness with which these attacks are met. The time for mere condemnation and rhetoric has passed; urgent and coordinated action is now required at all levels of government to end these bloodbaths and restore peace and order.
“While we acknowledge that defence and national security fall within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal Government, we must stress that every level of government bears responsibility for the security and welfare of the people. State governors, in particular, must rise to the occasion and fully understand that governance is not limited to road construction and ceremonial functions. True governance is rooted in the protection of lives, the preservation of order, and the alleviation of suffering,” he said.
He called on state governments to complement the efforts of the Federal Government by making and enforcing enabling laws for community policing and other grassroots-driven security models.
According to him, States must develop proactive frameworks that integrate local intelligence, social support systems, and youth engagement in the fight against insecurity.
The conference also urged the Federal Government to meaningfully engage the citizenry and introduce bold, practical measures to cushion the hardship caused by its current economic policies.
“Millions of Nigerians are groaning under the weight of inflation, unemployment, and a cost-of-living crisis. It is imperative that relief initiatives—targeted, transparent, and impactful—are rolled out without delay. Dialogue, not distance, must define the relationship between the government and its people at this critical time.
“The Conference of Speakers affirms its commitment to supporting all legislative actions necessary to restore security, promote justice, and foster inclusive governance across the country. The killings in Benue, Niger, Plateau, Borno, Kwara, and any part of Nigeria must not be allowed to continue unchecked. Justice must prevail, and peace must be restored.
“Let it be known: the safety, dignity, and well-being of every Nigerian must remain the top priority of all arms and levels of government,” Rt Hon. Ogundoyin said.