Rivers Assembly passes 2017 budget into law
Less than 48 hours after Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state presented the N470billion Budget for 2017 to state House of Assembly, the lawmakers have passed the document, as estimated, into law.
The lawmakers unanimously passed the budget at plenary yesterday after considering the report of the Appropriation Committee.
Leader of the House, Hon. Martins Amaewhule, in presenting the report on behalf of the Appropriation Committee, stated that from the committee’s findings, the 2016 budget performed above average.
Hon. Amaewhule, representing Obio/Akpor 1 Constituency, stated that after due considerations, the Committee recommended that the budgetary appropriation be passed as provided in the 2017 budget estimate.
He added “that the budgetary appropriation of N329 billion for capital expenditure as provided in the 2017 budget estimate be passed as provided; that the budgetary appropriation of N141 billion for recurrent expenditure as provided in the 2017 budget estimate be passed as provided; that the total appropriation of N470 billion for the service of Rivers State government in the 2017 fiscal year as provided in the 2017 budget estimate be passed as provided.”
The lawmaker, also debating after the House was converted to a Committee of the Whole, called for the passage of the budget, as there was no opposing views to the contents of the bill.
Describing the budget as “Mother of all Budgets” the lawmakers who contributed to the report, called for its speedy passage to enable the governor deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state.
One of the most vocal lawmakers during the contributions, Hon. Evans Bapakaye Bipi, representing Ogu/Bolo Constituency, and who is also the House Whip, stated that the budget estimate showed that Rivers State would experience more development as it captured capital projects, a development which he said was welcomed.
In passing the Appropriation Bill into law after all the all 18 lawmakers, including the Speaker, unanimously voted to approve the budget, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Adams Dabotorudima, commended the lawmakers for their robust debate.
