Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson on Friday signed into law, the 2013 appropriation bill of N304.05bn with the recurrent expenditure of N142.1bn and capital expenditure of N161.9bn.
The Governor in December 2012 presented a budgetary proposal of N285.9bn to the State House of Assembly for approval. However, after sectoral review, the Assembly increased the budget by N19bn before passing it into law.
Signing the bill into law, the Governor attributed the delay in its presentation to last year’s flooding that ravaged the entire communities in the state and the ill-fated Helicopter crash that claimed the lives of the former National Security Adviser, General Owoye Azazi and late Governor of Kaduna State, Sir Patrick Yakowa.
Commending the efforts of the State lawmakers for their commitment towards the actualization of the Restoration Agenda, the Governor said his Economic Team would soon commence the preparation of the 2014 Appropriation bill, adding that this would ensure its early presentation and passage in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Law.
According to him, ‘we are not only going to partner with the House of Assembly as we have always done but also specifically (on this issue of appropriation) work to ensure that by the Grace of God, we comply with the fiscal responsibility law which obliges us to submit an appropriation bill earlier than we did last year.’
On the implementation of the newly signed appropriation bill, the governor said, ‘on our part, we intend to follow this budget scrupulously. We intend to implement it to the latter as you have passed it. Where there are difficulties and shortfalls or any area we need to work with the Assembly, we will not hesitate to bring that to your notice because (after all) a budget is only a statement of intent, it is a broad policy financial document.
I want to request you and members of your House to also support Government as you have always done by exercising the full ambit of your oversight powers over all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, so that we can all work together to ensure that set goals and targets are achieved to enable us bring prosperity, development and security to the good people of this state’.
Earlier, the Speaker of the House of Assembly; Rt. Hon. Friday Kombowei Benson attributed the increment in the budget to the present administration’s drive for development.
‘The increase is because of your (Governor) ambitious drive for project and well-being of the people of Bayelsa state,’ the Speaker said.
Things have fallen apart, the centre cannot hold, we are no longer at ease, this was the expression of chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji of Abia State when he received the news of the death of Prof Chinua Achebe.
Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Ugo Emezue Chief Orji said that Ndigbo has lost a literary icon, a legend of all times and a hero whose novels remain a reference point in and outside the country.
Chief Orji who lamented the exit of Prof Achebe maintained that he is yet to come to terms with the sudden demise of this statesman of international repute.
The Abia State helmsman declared that Prof Achebe has impacted positively on the lives of people through his literary works.
Prof Achebe, Abia Governor stated that will be remembered for always standing up for Ndigbo at all times despite all odds.
Though Prof Achebe became a bit challenged through an accident that affected his legs he waxed stronger, impacting knowledge on the younger ones as a lecturer abroad , the Governor added.
Chief Orji said that the Governors of the South East will do their best to give their departed illustrious son a befitting burial.
He commiserated with the family of the bereaved and prayed God to give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
