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RVHA Okays N510bn 2018 State Budget …Approves Request To Reconstitute RSIEC

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The Rivers State House of Assembly finally approved the 2018 Appropriation Bill, including the Re-enactment of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) Bill 2018, Rivers State Local Government Repeal and Re-enactment Bill of 2018 and Kenule Beeson Polytechnic Bill of 2017.
The House had conducted a marathon sitting of over four hours to ensure that the bills which had been committed to Committee and Public hearings got Third Readings yesterday.
On the Appropriation Bill, the legislators voted in unison to approve the N510 billion budget proposal for 2018. The Speaker had described the action of the lawmakers as a “sacrifice” for the state.
Giving a run down of the bill, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani described the budget as a balanced one in the sense that it covers both capital and recurrent expenditures appropriately.
According to him, out of the N510 billion proposed, N23 billion was earmarked for the Administrative sector, Economic Sector got N123.4 billion, Law/Justice got N4.3 billion and Social Sector had N150 billion.
Based on the recommendation of the House Appropriation Committee comprising all House Standing Committees, the recurrent expenditure of N130 billion and capital expenditure of N379 billion were found appropriate for the overall benefit of the state.
In the words of the Speaker, “the people of Rivers State will be better served”, as he further pointed out that, “the state is aiming to become self reliant with improved Internally generated revenue which is the major source of funding the budget at about 60 per cent.
Rt. Hon. Ibani expressed hope that with the passage of the bill, “the era of going cap in hand is over”.
On the Keunle Saro Wiwa Polytechnic Bill of 2017, the law seeks to repeal and re-enact some subsisting laws, especially law No. 6 which provides for the functions, management and staffing of the institution with existing laws.
With the bill passed into law, the Polytechnic will now operate as others in the country with two Deputy Rectors, one for admin and another for academics.
The new RSIEC Bill (HA10) 2018 as passed by the legislators is aimed at aligning the commission with the Federal Electoral laws.
The lawmakers recommended that members of the commission should be apolitical with a tenure of five years, and after taking votes of members on the floor, 20 lawmakers gave nod to the new RSIEC law and assured that all inconsistencies as recorded in the old law would be removed.
Meanwhile, the House yesterday approved request by the governor to remove some members of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
The request sought to remove Dr. Chimaroke Mgba, Mgbana Martins, Tombo Johnson, Kingsley Obudibo and Dr. Juliet Berewari as members of RSIEC.
The lawmakers voted in support of the Governor’s request, as the Majority Leader, Hon. Martin Amawehule cited Section 201 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), which gives the governor powers to hire and fire based on 2/3 approval of the House.
Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ibani observed that if the Commissioners have been found wanting, then, the House will do the needful, “an umpire should not be partisan for an electoral body to conduct an election it must be seen as above board”.

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Why Wike Is Playing God In Rivers -Asari Dokubo

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A former Niger Delta militant, Asari Dokubo, has claimed that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is “playing god” in the current political crisis that has pitched him against the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
Dokubo also chided President Bola Tinubu for, according to him, handing over “Rivers and Bayelsa” to the ex-governor.
“He is now playing god. It is dead on arrival, all those things that he is doing,” Dokubo said in a video that surfaced on X.com on Monday.
He added, “I advise my friend, President Bola Tinubu; what you are doing to all Ijaw, Ikwerre people in Rivers State (sic). You took Rivers state and gave it one man”
In April, Fubara revealed that the administration has raised the monthly Internally Generated Revenue of the state from N12 billion which he met upon assumption of office to N27 billion.
Dokubo described the development as commendable while alleging that the governor only had access to N6 billion when he assumed office.
“The governor had come out to say that the IGR for Rivers State is now N27bn up from N12bn. The governor is even being economical with the truth. When the governor came in, they were giving him a paltry sum of N6bn,” he said.
Meanwhile, in another twist to the ongoing crisis, Fubara on Monday said that he would set up a panel of inquiry to look into the affairs of governance in the state.
He disclosed this during the swearing-in and administration of the oath of office on Dagogo Iboroma, SAN, as the Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice.
The governor criticized recent comments by the former Attorney-General of the State and Justice Commissioner, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, who resigned from his cabinet over a fortnight ago and urged the new Attorney-General to defend the state.
He stated, “It is not the one that while you were here… the only thing you do is to sabotage the government.
“Instead of you to close your mouth, you publicly claim that you’re a learned person to tell people that you’re the Chief Law Officer. Chief Law Officer, you were here and went to stand before a Magistrate Court.
“At that time you didn’t remember that you’re a Chief Law Officer going against the ethics of your job.”

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Investors, Tourists To Get Visa Within 48 Hours, FG Assures

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The Federal Executive Council chaired by President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a tripartite committee to streamline visa processes and acquisition for investors interested in investing in Nigeria.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, revealed this, yesterday, after the FEC meeting held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“Our visa processes are becoming cumbersome. The ease of doing business is also tied to our visa processes.
“Going forward, those investors, tourists would find it easy to acquire a visa within the next 48 hours,” Idris said.
The meeting which began on Monday was adjourned till Tuesday to allow for other “far-reaching” decisions, the information minister had told journalists.

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Panel To Probe Governance In Rivers Underway -Fubara …Swears In Iboroma As New Attorney-General

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Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared his readiness to set up a panel of inquiry to look into the affairs of governance in the state.
Fubara disclosed this during the swearing-in and administration of the oath of office on Dagogo Iboroma, SAN, as the new Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice.
The governor criticised recent comments by the former Attorney-General of the State and Justice Commissioner, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor, SAN, who resigned from his cabinet over a fortnight ago and urged the new Attorney-General to defend the state.
Fubara stated, “It is not the one that while you were here… the only thing you do is to sabotage the government.
“Instead of you to close your mouth, you publicly claim that you’re a learned person to tell people that you’re the Chief Law Officer. Chief Law Officer, you were here and went to stand before a Magistrate Court.
“At that time you didn’t remember that you’re a Chief Law Officer going against the ethics of your job.”
Addressing the new AG, the governor said, “You have a big task. As it is today in the local parlance, they say the jungle has matured. We will be setting a panel of inquiry to investigate the affair of governance.”
The governor further said there was a deliberate attempt to sabotage his administration, saying, “If we disagree, no matter how bad it is, it should be resolved.
“But it has become very clear that this disagreement there is no headway to it, and for many reasons, there is very visible evidence that there is sabotage, a deliberate attempt to sabotage this administration.
“Maybe where they are they are telling them nothing will happen, it is happening here live, we have our own legislators that are performing their duties according to the Constitution. So that record is threatened.”

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