By Kote Obe, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has promised to implement at least 80 percent of the 2022 budget of the state.
The governor made the promise at Government House, Port Harcourt shortly after assenting to the 2022 Appropriation Bill that authorised his government to spend a total of N483.1 billion for the 2022 fiscal year.
The budget is the last full budget that the governor will implement before leaving office in May, 2023.
His critics have accused him of failing to make details of his budget open since 2016 when he first signed the state’s budget.
But on Tuesday, the governor said, “By the grace of God, we’ll hit the ground running from January 1, 2022,” saying that as a political year, 2022 will also be turbulent politically and will require so much attention in that regards.
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He reiterated that the failure of President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the Electoral Act amendment bill would have a ripple effect on the polity, particularly if the National Assembly decide to override his veto.
“So, next year will be politically turbulent and it will affect performance of every budget. But I pray to God that it shouldn’t be much, so that we will be able to execute the necessary plans and goods we have for our people,” he added.
But he vowed that his administration will be focused in providing services to the State and its people despite the envisaged political turbulence.
Wike thanked the lawmakers for the quick passage of the Appropriation Bill and continual support to his government.
Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani acknowledged the robust collaboration that has existed between the executive and the legislature.
Ibani praised the governor over his flyover and road projects, saying that there is now reduced travel time in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
Presenting the Rivers State Appropriation Bill No. 11, 2021 to the Governor for his assent, leader of the House, Hon. Martins Amaewhule said lawmakers sat, studied the various estimates before passing same.
According to him, given how the previous budgets have been implemented, they are sure that this current Appropriation Law will be implemented to consolidate the successes already achieved.
