From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has presented N1.188 trillion 2025 budget to the Victor Oko-Jumbo factional House of Assembly.
Presenting the Appropriation Bill christened, “Budget of inclusive growth and development,” to the three-member House of Assembly yesterday, Fubara said: “I am profoundly pleased and honoured to stand before you today to present to the members of this Honourable Assembly the Rivers State Budget for the 2025 financial year.
“As you know, this is my second budget address since assuming the mantle of leadership on May 29, 2023. On December 13, 2023, I presented my first budget under the theme: Renewed Hope, Consolidation and Continuity.
“A year later, we have every reason to thank God for the continuing privilege of serving our dear State and her people with courage, honour and integrity despite the obvious challenges.
“I want to assure you and the good people of Rivers State that we are determined and resolute in providing our dear State with unmatched services.
“Indeed, we were elected at this time to serve God’s divine purpose for the State and our people, and with Him by our side, we will continue to provide and ensure our campaign promises are fulfilled.
“Our mission in government is to serve the State, advance its development, and deliver sustainable improvements in the well-being of all residents.
“As servant-leaders, we are responsible for securing the State and delivering quality, effective and efficient public services, including education, healthcare, and socio-economic infrastructure to serve the best interests of our people.
“We also must create an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and create jobs and sustainable economic opportunities for all, including our youths, to prosper and live a good life.”
The governor stated that the appropriation estimate was the true reflection of the reality of the state of our economy “with reasonable flexibility that allows for eminent shocks from the current challenges with the national economy and macroeconomic frameworks.
“No other government in recent history has delivered more capital investments and captured the confidence of our people in our ability and commitment to deliver strategic development and the building of prosperous, sustainable and inclusive progress in Rivers State than we have done.
“Therefore, today, we are presenting a budget that would empower us to consolidate the past gains, stimulate further investments into our economy and take our dear State to the next level of economic growth, social progress and shared prosperity.”
Governor Fubara thanked Rivers people and the Oko-Jumbo factional House for their “unwavering support, prayers and trust over the last year and seven months I have had the privilege and honour of serving as their Chief Servant.”
He added: “Together, let us continue to work towards building a better and more prosperous future for our dear State as I present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to this Honourable House for consideration.”
A further breakdown showed that recurrent expenditure is allocated N462,254,153,418.98 while capital expenditure and planning reserve will gulp N678,088,433,692.03 and N35,688,864,931.16 respectively.
Breakdown of the recurrent expenditure showed that personnel emolument takes N169,668,205,260.86 followed by Gratuities N60 billion while N49,137,254,525.70 is earmarked for new recruitments. Governance would gulp N213,585,509,623.75, infrastructure, N195,074,765,456.35 and N97,750,635,249.84 will go for health. Education, agriculture, public administration, social development and Environment/Sustainable Development would get N63,275,138,622.61, N30,954,421,684.60, N21,110,915,588.89, N15,477,210,842.33 and N12,877,039,420.79 respectively.