By DAPO FALADE
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 on Thursday, Governor 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,” he said.
Governor Wike said infrastructural revolution in the state is already appreciated across party divide, particularly with comments from the chairman of Senate Committee On Work, Senator Adamu Aliero.
“Today, when we went for the 26th meeting of the 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 Babatunde Fashola, who is the Minister of Works and Housing, 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,” he added.
Wike commended members of the state House ofAssembly for the expeditious passage of the bill into law, which he said indicated 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 are not interested in the development of the state, it would 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 in our state, the arms of government are working very closely and doing their own work.
“People should talk about how Rivers State will move forward. I have 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,” he said.
Presenting the bill for signing, the Leader of the House, Honourable Martins Amaewhule, said the legislature gave speedy attention to the bills because they will further make life better for Rivers people when implemented.
Speaker of the House, Honourable Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, assured that the Assembly woukd 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 and Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (Amendment) Law, No. 24 of 2020.
Others included 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.
Leave a Reply