The Rivers State House of Assembly has approved the N530,813,357,619.00, 2020 budget proposed by Governor Nyesom Wike for implementation between January 1 and December 31, 2020.
Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi OWAJI-IBANI, speaker of the house, during plenary on Thursday, directed that the clerk of the House ensure he gets a clean copy for the assent of the state governor, Nyesom Wike so that the implementation begins from January 1, 2020.
“We are making this sacrifice to ensure that our people from 1st January, will begin to enjoy the dividend of democracy and that by January 1, 2020, the government will hit the ground running, we don’t need to leave any stone unturned to ensure that clean copy is ready for the governor’s assent.
“The appropriation committee extensively deliberated on the document and made recommendation, and members of the House Committee on Supply agree that the recommendation of House Committee on Appropriation should carry the day and in unison we supported the motion of the majority leader, as seconded by Hon. Bariene Deeyaa, the recommendation as agreed by the committee on supply, that the total sum of N156, 659,436, 569,00 be approved for recurrent expenditure for the year 2020.
The Leader of the House and member representing Obuo/Akpor Constituency 2, Martins Amaehwule pointed out that among other provisions of the 2020 budget proposal that received the passage of the House was the state workers minimum wage of over N70 billion.
He said that with the retaining of the item in the budget document that was passed, means that the workers will begin to enjoy new minimum wage from the beginning of next year.
“Also a total sum of N136, 444, 523, 766, 60 was approved for the Economic sector, and law and justice got, N2, 400,000, 000 while social sector got N138, 558, 553, 322, 35 and special dates also was given, N57, 367,124,462, 05 while the sum of N24, 322,731,192 only was approved for loan repayment.”
Wike had a week ago presented the appropriation bill of N530,813,357,619.00, to the lawmakers.
The document is tagged Budget of “Reassurance, profound impact for inclusive growth and shared prosperity”
Wike said the budget covers the new minimum wage of the state workers and included the those to be employed in the state in the new year.
“The capital expenditure for 2020 is estimated to be N374, 153,920,743.00, which constitutes nearly 70% of the total budget. The summary of sectorial allocations of the capital expenditure is as follows,
Administrative sector, gets N15, 061,008,000.00 economic sectorN136, 444,523,766.60, and Law and Justice, will get N2, 400,000,000, and Social sector gets N138, 558,553,322.35
Others are: Special Head is to receive, N57, 367,124,462.05, and the sum of N24,322,731,192.00, planned for the repayment of monies earlier borrowed, amongst others.
Speaking further, he said, “The substantial increase in capital over recurrent expenditure, once again reflects and underscores our commitment to direct more resources to the growth and productive sectors of our economy.
Governor Wike stated that the sum of N93,968,823,766.60 has been provided for the Ministry of Works to continue to fund the strategic road development programme for 2020. He said that several roads are under construction , but the State Government is committed to delivering some key roads by the end of 2020.
