Rivers State, Governor Siminalayi Fubara on Wednesday, presented a N800bn appropriation bill to the House of Assembly as a proposed budget for the 2024 fiscal year.
The budget was tagged, “Budget of Renewed Hope, Consolidation and Continuity was approved during the 5th State Executive Council presided over by the Governor.
The council disclosed that N412bn was projected for capital expenditure, while recurrent expenditure has N361bn and N21b as reserve.
Governor Fubara presented the budget during plenary at a temporary assembly complex inside the Government House, under the speakership of Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie and four other members of the Assembly loyal to him.
The Governor was accompanied by the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, Commissioner for Finance, Isaac Kamalu, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, and other members of his cabinet.
Earlier, before the arrival of the governor, Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edison Ehie during the Wednesday proceedings, had declared the seat of the 25 lawmakers that defected to APC vacant.
Recall that 27 of 32 members of the Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former governor of the state, Nyesom Wike had on Monday dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Edison Ehie said the action of the lawmakers was in gross violation of the 1999 constitution.
He said the House will communicate the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on the development and possible filling of the vacant seats.
The Speaker also urged Governor Fubara to set up a judicial panel of inquiry to investigate the burning of the Hallowed chamber of the now demolished Rivers State House of Assembly complex.
The pro-Wike lawmakers were absent at the budget presentation by the governor.
