Onyedi Gabriel, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has signed into law the revised 2020 Appropriation Bill reduced by 48 per cent.
The governor assented to the bill on Monday when it was presented to him by the Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
The budget was downgraded from N530.813bn to N300.370bn, representing 48 per cent reduction.
Wike said the review became necessary following the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in Nigeria.
He said revenue allocated to recurrent and capital expenditures had been reduced but added that the development would not affect the delivery of quality projects and services to Rivers people.
He said, “It is most unfortunate that everybody is living a different life now because of the pandemic, which calls for us to face the economic reality.
“The COVID-19 has affected economic activities and revenues of government, and so it became necessary to review our budget.
“By the revised budget, it means that so many things have to change. We have cut down the capital and recurrent expenditure to face the reality.
“We are the only state that has not cut down the salaries of political appointees and elected officers . Virtually all the states have cut down 20 to 30 percent of salaries of political appointees. Having cut down the recurrent expenditures, the overhead will no longer be the same.”
The governor further said said that his administration was determined to ensure that the proposed reconstruction of the Assembly Quarters stood the test of time.
He said, “One thing I can assure you is that we are working with Julius Berger Nigeria PLC to reconstruct the Assembly Quarters. We want something that will stand the test of time.
“A good living environment and quality houses will enhance your input and services to our state.”
He promised to release the balance of funds for the 2018 constituency projects of the legislators.
In his remarks, Amaewhule said the Rivers State revised Appropriation Law No. 7 of 2020 was intended to make provision of services to fall into current reality.
He said, “The House passed this Bill and it is intended to provide for a Law to revise the Rivers State Appropriation Law No. 12 of 2019 to make provision for services of Rivers State for the year ending on the 31st of December 2020.
“Against the approved figures of sum-N530,813,357,619.00 billion, which the House approved in 2019, as a result of the prevailing economic circumstances of the country , the House now approved a total sum of N171,33,409,454.55 billion for capital expenditure.
“For the recurrent expenditure, N129,336,662,028.77bn, bringing a total of N300,370,071,183.33bn.”