Politics
Wike Signs 2020 Revised Budget Into Law
Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt witnessed a lot of activities, last week, as the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike vigorously pursued good governance for the state and his added role as the chairman, PDP National Campaign Council for Edo State 2020 Governorship Election.
Governor Wike signed into law, the revised 2020 Budget with a promise to sustain his administration’s commitment to the delivery of quality projects in the state.
The revised 2020 Appropriation Bill which was presented by the Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Martins Amaewhule and signed by the governor has a total figure of N300, 370,071,183.33 billion. This is a 48 per cent reduction from the N530,813,357,619.00 billion which was originally presented before the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
The governor explained that the unfortunate effect of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country necessitated the review of both the capital and the recurrent expenditure of the budget.
“By the revised budget, it means so many things have to change. We have to cut down the capital and the recurrent expenditure to face the reality”, he said, assuring however that the review would not affect the delivery of quality developmental projects and services to Rivers people.
Within the week under review, Governor Wike officially presented 41 Sports Utility Vehicles to judges in the state judiciary and seven other judges serving in the Federal Judicial Service who are of Rivers State origin.
He said the transformation agenda in the state judiciary under his administration was based on the understanding that judges and magistrates who toil daily to dispense Justice and advance societal peace need to be taken care of.
The state chief executive who decried the involvement of some judicial officers in politics through their comments, special affiliations, body language and palpable commitments and advised them to operate within the precinct of the profession, stressing that “adjudication and politics are incompartible extremes”.
The governor announced the completion of 20 purpose-built luxury and fully furnished judges quarters built in fulfilment of his administration’s policy of providing decent life- long accommodation for all judges in the state.
He urged the judges to reciprocate government’s gesture by maintaining the highest sense of responsibility in discharging their duties.
Also last week, the new General Officer Commanding Division 6 of the Nigerian Army , General Olu Irefin paid a courtesy visit to Governor Wike in Government House, Port Harcourt.
The GOC commended Governor Wike for the support of his administration to the division which he was made to understand on arrival and pledged to sustain the existing collaboration as it concerns the vital role of protection of lives and property in the state.
The governor, in his response, expressed the willingness of his administration to continue to collaborate with the division in view of the importance of security, particularly in the fight against criminality.
“ That way, we will be partners in progress and make the state safe for all residents”, the governor said.
The governor however, expressed serious concern over the prevalence of insecurity in the country, noting that it had reached an alarming state.
He called on security agencies to redouble their efforts to curb the alarming state.
Harmmer of the state Government fell on some banks operating in the state for giving unauthorised loans to some local government chairmen in the state, as the State Chief executive, last week announced suspension of the Joint Account Allocation Committee ( JAAC) accounts with the affected banks.
By: Chris Oluoh
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the list of candidates for the 2027 governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections from Saturday, August 8, to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
The commission announced the extension in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
According to INEC, the decision followed appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the submission process through the dedicated online portal.
“The submission window, which according to the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, 8th August, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, 11th August, 2026,” the commission said.
In a a related development, INEC announced the suspension of PVC collection in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The commission said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards would have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.
The electoral body explained that the deadline was necessary to enable it compile data on downloaded PVCs and produce final statistics on the total number of cards collected ahead of the election.
INEC said PVC collection in Osun commenced at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28, 2026, but was extended to July 31 following complaints about large crowds and difficulties experienced by voters at collection centres.
The exercise subsequently moved to the local government level and ran from August 1 to 7.
The commission also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas following the theft of cards during attacks on the two collection centres.
It stressed that the stolen cards could not be used to vote.
INEC reassured Osun residents of its preparedness for the August 15 governorship election.
“The commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
“INEC reassures the people of Osun State of its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on 15th August, 2026,” the statement said.
The commission said the deadline, initially set for Saturday, 8 August, has been extended to Tuesday, 11 August 2026, following appeals from political parties for more time.
INEC also announced that the window for voters who applied to replace lost, damaged or defaced PVCs to download their replacement cards will close at midnight on Sunday, 9 August.
The move is to enable the commission compile final PVC collection figures ahead of the 15 August Osun governorship election.
INEC said replacement downloadable PVCs have also been provided to affected voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas after hoodlums carted away cards from two collection centres, stressing that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
The commission reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive election in Osun State.
Gov. Kefas made the remarks over the weekend at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, during the flag-off of the second phase of the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach in Taraba State, organised as part of activities marking Prof. Yilwatda’s 58th birthday.
The governor commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing to mark his birthday by providing medical care to people in need.
“What Professor Nentawe did is a powerful demonstration of what leadership should be,” Gov. Kefas said.
He assured that his administration would continue to support initiatives that complement government efforts to improve healthcare delivery and the wellbeing of residents.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Yilwatda called on Nigerian leaders to embrace the culture of giving and use their positions to touch the lives of the less privileged.
He said his decision to celebrate his 58th birthday in Taraba State was deliberate and informed by the needs of underserved communities, particularly people who face difficulties accessing healthcare because of distance and financial constraints.
According to him, the intervention followed a needs assessment and was extended across the three senatorial districts of the state.
He said the exercise commenced on August 3 at Takum General Hospital and covered the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari; First Referral Hospital, Sunkani, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area; General Hospital, Bali; General Hospital, Gembu; and FMC Jalingo.
Prof. Yilwatda said the intervention provided medical services to thousands of beneficiaries, including people who required surgical procedures.
He said sustainable national development could only be achieved when strong institutions placed Nigerians at the centre of development.
“Leadership is about service,” he said, urging political and public leaders to make giving back to society an important part of their responsibilities.
He reaffirmed his commitment to serving Nigeria and its people, saying his personal vision was to make every day of his life useful to humanity.
“Every day that I live, the vision is: let it be useful to humanity,” he said.
The Taraba State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya Buma, commended the initiative, saying it was consistent with the Renewed Hope agenda and efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state.
Dr Buma said the second phase followed the successful completion of the first phase, which was conducted simultaneously in six local government areas, with two LGAs selected from each of the three senatorial districts.
According to him, more than 10,000 patients were attended to during the first phase, including people with medical and surgical conditions.
He disclosed that 327 general surgeries, 71 eye surgeries and 575 dental procedures were carried out during the exercise.
The commissioner expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach and thanked Prof. Yilwatda for supporting the initiative and choosing Taraba State as a beneficiary.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, also commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing Taraba State to mark his 58th birthday through a medical outreach.
Prof. Pate said making healthcare the centrepiece of the birthday celebration was significant because health affects everyone.