Wike Signs N448.660bn 2021 Budget

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike has signed into law the 2021 Appropriation Bill and promised that it will be implemented in providing basic infrastructure for the good of the state.
Signing the 2021 Budget at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday, Wike said his administration is working assiduously to sustain the tempo of development that has continued to stand the state out in the federation.
He assured those who have wondered why the on-going projects in their local government areas were not mentioned when he presented the budget to the state House of Assembly that such projects are already captured as special projects and will be completed.
“So many people have asked why there are no projects in their area. We could not have, in our budget speech, named all the projects. But within the budget, there are many projects and those that cannot be named; we have to put them under special projects.
“Everybody should be rest assured that no local government will be left out as long as the implementation of this budget is concerned. What is important is that we will do all we can to make sure that this Appropriation Law is fully implemented, particularly as regards basic infrastructure that we are supposed to provide for our people.”
Wike said infrastructural revolution in the state was already appreciated across party divide, particularly with comments from the Chairman of Senate Committee on Works, Senator Adamu Aliero.
“Today, when we went for the 26th meeting of National Council on Works, Senator Adamu Aliero, said he wants to tell other states to emulate what’s going on in Rivers State.
“He said that as they were coming, they were so satisfied with what they have seen and the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said he does not want to talk about the development in the state so that I will not play politics with it. People are seeing the good works we are doing.”
The governor commended members of the state House of Assembly for the expeditious passage of the bill into law, which indicates their love for the continued development of the state.
“It is not easy to pass these bills into laws in such a short time and I want to commend your efforts. If you’re not interested in the development of the state it will not have been possible.
“We have always said that it is not only for the Executive to see that the state moves forward, it is also for the Legislature and Judiciary. We are lucky that our in state that the arms of government are working very closely, and doing their own work.
“People should talk about how Rivers State will move forward. I’ve told anybody to challenge us, and tell me one local government where there is no state government project. Let us work together and you’ll see our state will be a different state.”
In presenting the bill for signing, the leader of the House, Hon. Martins Amaewhule, said the assembly gave speedy attention to the bills because they will further make life better for Rivers people when implemented.
The Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani assured that the assembly will continue perform its function to complement efforts of the Executive in providing secure state for the people.
The bills signed into law include: Rivers State Appropriation Law No. 25 of 2020; Rivers State Dehumanising and Harmful Traditional Practices (Abortion) (Amendment) Law No. 11 of 2019; Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (Amendment) Law No. 24 of 2020; Rivers State Security Trust Fund Law No. 6 of 2020; the Port Harcourt Polytechnic (Amendment) Law No. 13 of 2019; Rivers State Audit Law No. 2 of 2020; Rivers State Violence No 4 of 2020; and Rivers State Female Circumcision (Abolition) (Amendment) No. No 9 of 2019.
Earlier, the Rivers State House of Assembly had approved the state budget after the different House Committees submitted their reports.
The sum of N448, 660, 773, 476 was approved by the House.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani said the House scrutinised the budget in line with World Bank recommendations within two weeks.
He commended the lawmakers for their dedication, as he expressed the hope that the budget would transform the lives of the citizenry.
Christened, “Budget of Recovery and Consolidation”, the budget is made up of N305,894,284.061, as Capital Expenditure, while N142,776,489,415 is earmarked as Recurrent Expenditure.
The Rivers State Chief Executive noted that the 2021 budget represented more than 20 per cent increase over the 2020 Revised Budget.
According to him, the sum of N82,957,295,248.81, has been provided for the provision of infrastructure, including roads, bridges and completion of flyover projects at Okoro-nu-Odo, Rumuola, Rumuogba, and Port Harcourt GRA Junction.
He also assured that his administration would deliver the Ogoni- Andoni-Opobo Unity Road, the Eastern Bypass Dualisation, 6th and 7th flyover projects and the Wakama Road as well as all other ongoing rural road projects in the communities and local government areas across the state.
He regretted that economic challenges of Covid-19 pandemic clearly exposed the state’s vulnerability to food security, hence the sum of N16,107,080,000.00 would be spent on targeted investment in the agriculture value chain in a bid to create employment and enhance collective food security of the state.
Wike noted that the policy thrust for 2021 budget will be to accelerate economic recovery, drive growth and create opportunities for social progress, human capital development and tackle poverty, build first class infrastructures to accelerate our socio-economic development.