Politics
Fayemi Signs N100.7bn 2022 Budget Into Law
Governor Kayode Fayemi on Friday signed the Ekiti State 2022 Appropriation Bill of N100.7 billion into law, promising to consolidate on the gains of the last three years of his administration
While signing bill tagged: “Budget of Legacy and Consolidation” in Ado-Ekiti, Fayemi said it had a percentage ratio of 60:40 recurrent to capital expenditure.
He said it was designed to achieve the goals of handing over an enduring legacy to the incoming administration.
“It has been designed to ensure we complete most, if not all, of our capital projects, while also ensuring the day-to-day operations of government continue to run smoothly.
“The budget will ensure we complete the projects, including the Ekiti Passenger-Cargo Airport, the Ado-Iworoko section of the Ado-Ifaki Road, renovation of township roads, and finally commence our construction of farms roads across the state.
“It will also ensure we continue to construct and renovate schools, while also providing learning materials for students.
“Also, it will ensure we complete the construction and equipping of our Intensive Care Unit at EKSUTH, as well as various ongoing projects in many of our secondary and primary care hospitals.
“We will continue to focus on the environment, by completing our erosion and watershed management project.
He added that “It will also help in consolidating on our gains in agriculture by investing in more Public-Private Partnerships, to deepen commercial agriculture across the State”.
The governor said his administration would also leverage the budget to lay a solid foundation for long terms transformative projects like the Ekiti Knowledge Zone and the Special Agriculture Processing Zone.
According to him, these two projects will eventually deliver large scale opportunities to thousands of young people.
He said it would give them an opportunity to develop exciting careers without having to migrate from Ekiti.
Fayemi said his administration considered it as a mark of responsibility to build on work done by previous governments and also bequeath a legacy for those coming afterwards.
“This budget has been prepared not just to consolidate on the work we have done in the last three years, but with one eye on the future, to ensure our successor government has a clear blueprint of development to follow, with the minimal burden of unfinished projects.
“We are not just keen to finish well, we are even more focused on providing a launchpad for a worthy successor government to lift Ekiti into a period of sustained prosperity,” he said.
The governor said the administration had been able to restore the Ekiti values, and set the state on the path of sustainable growth.
He said the budgets in the last three years had been tailored and aligned with the government’s five-point agenda.
Fayemi said that the administration had utilised the budgets as instruments to deliver on development objectives.
“Budgets, as you know, are important instruments in delivering on the priorities of the government.
“I am pleased to report today that our five main road projects have all been delivered and inaugurated, with the most recent inauguration of the Ado-Iyin Road, earlier in the week.
“These roads reduce the travel time within the state and improve the productivity of our people.
“I am sure over time, we will see the benefits of improving our infrastructure stock with an increase in commercial activities within Ekiti.
“We have also delivered on our plans to renovate and equip our schools and hospitals in fulfilment of our promise to prioritise human capital development.
“Also, even with the challenging fiscal environment, we continue to fulfil our promises to our workers, and only recently defrayed some of the outstanding obligations owed by our predecessors in office.
“This and the constant investment in our people by completing a number of secretariat blocks and office buildings, show our dedication to our engine room of governance, the civil service,” he said.
The Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum expressed his profound gratitude to members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, especially the Speaker, Funminiyi Afuye, for passing the 2022 Appropriation Bill in record time.
“I appreciate the commitment of the members of the Fiscal Coordinating Agencies in driving our annual budget preparation and execution.
“In particular, I commend the Honourable Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning and his team in the Ministry for their dedication, hard work and commitment in the preparation of the 2022 draft estimates,” he said.
Politics
New Council Chairman Promises Development Of LGA
The newly elected Chairman of Abua/Odual Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon. Vincent Reuben Obu, has resumed office with the resolve and assurance to govern the LGA with a deep sense of responsibility and consultation with stakeholders to bring sustainable development in the area.
Hon Obu disclosed this while speaking with news- men at Ayama, Abua Central shortly after swearing into office, the vice Chairman of the Council, Hon Eruka Enanaapu and new councilors representing the 13 Wards of the LGA and constituting the 9th Legislative Assembly, with Rt Hon Memonye Wariboko representing Ward1 elected as the Leader.
The chairman dissolved all standing committees and political appointees from the previous administration, and announced the appointment of Dr. Otuoye Asher as the new secretary of the council.
He affirmed his campaign promises to commission projects within 100 days in office, stating that the Abua/Odual rural electrification project would be one of the key initiatives to be commissioned within his first 100 days in office.
Hon Obu condemned the recent unleashing of mayhem and destruction of some local government secretariats by hoodlums, and urged residents to remain law-abiding and key into the peaceful leadership of the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara which is bringing total transformation and development in Rivers State.
In their remarks, the Chairman Local Government Service Commission, Pastor Goodlife Ben Iduoko, and Bar Daniel Atemie, congratulated the new Abolga Council Boss and expressed confidence in his capabilities to dispense good governance and democratic dividends in the area.
Politics
LG Polls: NCSU Hails Fubara’s Courage
The Nigeria Civil Service Union(NCSU) has expressed delight over the outcome of last Saturday’s local government elections in Rivers State, and commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his uncommon courage, forthrightness and resilience which made it possible for his candidates to win the elections.
The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who made the commendation in an interview in Port Harcourt, said the Governor demonstrated uncommon courage, forthrightness and resilience during the build-up and countdown to the elections which paved the way for the successful conduct of the elections and emergence of his candidates as winners of the elections, describing the elections as generally peaceful.
He noted that many people in the State did not give Governor Fubara a chance of successfully weathering the political storm during the build-up to the elections, as they had thought that the entire process was going to be a disaster.
Osumah thanked Governor Fubara for overcoming all odds and ensuring that the entire process was hitch-free, peaceful and credible, describing the successful outcome of the elections as a victory for democracy.
The labour leader also condemned in strong terms the invasion of local government councils in the State by political thugs, shortly after the successful swearing-in of elected council chairmen by the Governor, and expressed joy that Governor Fubara has constituted a panel of inquiry over the development, contending that all those responsible for the mayhem inflicted on the affected councils would pay dearly for their actions.
Osumah equally applauded Governor Fubara for proving that he is truly the Chief Security Officer of the State, before, during and after the elections, adding that it was a great feat that the elections were successful, peaceful and hitch-free without the prying eyes of the police.
He noted that the Governor’s detractors had taken his peaceful disposition for granted, and affirmed that Governor Fubara has truly proved to the world that he is capable of ruling Rivers State.
He, however, appealed to the elected council chairmen and councillors to continue to support Governor Fubara and work for the collective good of Rivers people, insisting that the enemies have not yet gone to sleep but are still awake, to cause more havoc to the State.
He said the Governor as a former civil servant who rose from the ranks to the top echelon of the Civil Service, would continue to enjoy the support of civil servants in the State, and expressed optimism that his administration is going to implement the new minimum wage, as the Governor had promised, particularly now that the local government elections are over.
Osumah carpeted the Inspector General of Police over his roles in the political crisis rocking the State, saying instead of protecting democracy by virtue of his professional calling, he is rather destroying democracy.
According to him, the IGP has a question to answer over his roles in the Rivers political crisis, and has a lot of explanations to make to President Bola Tinubu.
He expressed delight that police operatives several council secretariats in the State, describing it as a welcomed development.
Politics
Rivers Assembly Backs RSIEC
The Rivers State House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt Hon. Victor Oko-Jumbo has endorsed the October 5, 2024 local government elections in Rivers State.
Rt Hon. Oko-Jumbo said this on the floor of the House during its legislative sitting on Wednesday in Port Harcourt.
He said the House aligned itself with a recent Supreme Court’s judgement which directed all states in the country to ensure democratically elected councils in their respective states.
According to the Speaker, the forthcoming election is also in line with the recent Supreme Court’s judgment which outlawed unelected councils’ leaderships in the country.
Rt Hon Oko-Jumbo also said the election is also in compliance with the order of a Port Harcourt High Court that mandated the state electoral umpire to use the 2023 Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) voter register for the election.
The Speaker said the House was also satisfied with the preparations so far made by both the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) and the state government for the conduct of the elections.
The number one lawmaker in the State urged security agencies to ensure adequate security of lives and property during the elections, while calling on eligible voters to turn out en mass and vote for candidates of their choice.
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