RIVERS GOT 845 BILLION REVENUE IN THREE YEARS – AMAECHI
The Rivers State Government says it has grossed a total sum of N845 billion from the November, 2007 to September 2010, covering the last three years.
According to a statement signed by Blessing Wikinaka Acting Press Secretary to the Governor, the sum of seven hundred and twenty-three billion, nine hundred and sixty-five million, one hundred and seventy-four thousand four hundred and thirty-eight Naira, sixty one kobo (N723,965,174,438.61),was realized from Federation Account while Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), he said, amounted to one hundred and nine billion, seven hundred and thirty-two million, one hundred and fifty-eight thousand, eight hundred and thirty-seven naira sixty-nine kobo (N109,732,158,837.69), and from other sources, eleven billion, three hundred and twenty million, two hundred and thirty-two thousand, four hundred and thirty-six naira thirty-nine kobo (11,320,232,436.39).
This was announced by Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, while rendering a sectoral account of his stewardship to the people of the state, to round off activities marking the 3rd anniversary of his administration at the main bowl of the Alfred Diette Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt.
Breakdown of the total amount shows that Recurrent Expenditure gulped about N77billion and about N643 billion went for capital expenditure, while the reserve fund in the compulsory savings of government is twenty five billion Naira.
The Ministry of Work, according to the breakdown, received the highest allocation of about N2O8 billion followed by the Ministry of Education which got about N58.4 billion Naira, while the Ministry of Power got about N49.3billion, and the Ministry of Local Government Affairs received the least allocation of about fifty seven point three million Naira.
Governor Amaechi, who thanked members of the State Assembly, the State Executive Council and people of the State for the support they have given him in the past three years, reassured the people that public funds would not be abused.
The governor, who highlighted his achievements in the areas of Education, Health and Road construction noted that one area government has not done well was in provision of potable water, but hinted that something was being done to address the situation.
In the area of electricity, he said, while there has been improvement in power supply, in some parts of the state capital, government has concluded plans to provide electricity in 500 communities in the state under its operation 'light the rural communities scheme' at the cost of N9.2billion and that communities that cannot be connected to the National Grid would be provided with Generating plants.
The State Chief Executive, who regretted that the Federal Government was taking a lot from the state through taxes and oil without doing any project for the state said 'we are no longer waiting for the Federal Government to give us power, we are partnering with PHCN to improve distribution'.
He averred that those who are seeking elective office in the 2011 general elections should first tell the people what they did in the past when they held political positions, and assured that security operatives would confront anybody who attempts to use force during the next elections.
Speaking on the occasion, the Amanyanabo of Opobo, king Dandison Jaja, who spoke on behalf of Traditional rulers, said the council had already endorsed governor Amaechi unanimously for a second term because he has done well, a position the state branch of ALGON represented by the secretary Mr. Chukwuemeka Woke, also took.