The governor of Rivers State on Thursday signed the 2025 appropriation bill of N1.18 trillion into law, 72 hours after he had presented the budget to a three-man legislature led by Mr Victor Oko-Jumbo as speaker.
Taking to his X handle, the governor said: “Today, I signed into law the 2025 Rivers State Appropriation Bill. Tagged ‘Budget of inclusive growth and development’, the bill is estimated at N1.1 trillion.
“I deeply appreciate the Rivers State House of Assembly for their diligence and my executives for their unwavering commitment to service.
“Together, we are setting the pace for a prosperous year ahead, focusing on education, healthcare, agriculture, and infrastructure.”
Speaking after signing the piece of legislation into law, Fubara thanked the Oko-Jumbo-led state assembly for doing a good job.
He stated that the only house of assembly existing in the state was the one led by the speaker.
“We have one assembly and that assembly is headed by Honourable Victor Oko-Jumbo. As far as I’m concerned, we have moved on,” he said.
He also said the records needed to be put straight to address insinuations in some quarters about a possible split in the state’s parliament, saying there was no such division.
He described those who abdicated their mandate in the House as a group of friends who he said had embarked on ‘Sinbad journey’, and half-way into the journey, they decided to return.
He stated that the focus of his administration is to defend the interest of Rivers State and the integrity of governance.
He assured the citizens that with the 2025 budget now signed, every projection made in it will be addressed to deliver hope and good life to all residents in the State.
“We will make sure that we kick-start, so that the record of performance that was accorded by this administration in the year 2024 will be higher in this year, 2025.
“Let me first thank the Rivers State House of Assembly for doing very diligent job, and also realizing the task that we have ahead of us, which is to continue to work for Rivers people. So, I want to thank you for working very hard and ensuring that we hit the ground running in this New Year,” he added.
The governor also commended the members of the state executive council, which he described as the management team, especially the deputy governor, for their support and cooperation, and particularly thanked the commissioners for finance, and budget, as well as the acting chairman of Rivers State Internal Revenue Board, for the wonderful job they did last year.
“We expect you to do more because we have a bigger task ahead of us. We have made some promises to our people. Education, health and agriculture; we must make sure we make good impact just like we have done in the areas of road and other aspects of the economy. We made a promise to you (Rivers people) that we will continue to protect, defend and promote the interest of our dear State,” he said.
In his remarks, Oko-Jumbo, asserted that Rivers people witnessed unprecedented growth in the state made possible by the administration of Fubara in infrastructure development, healthcare delivery, education, social welfare, security and other sectors.
