By Ken Chiwendu
President Bola Tinubu has sent a budget proposal of N1.48 trillion for the Rivers State Government to the National Assembly for consideration and passage.
Tinubu said the budget proposal became necessary because of the nullification of the 2025 budget of the state by the Supreme Court and the fact that the state is currently under emergency rule.
The President said that ₦324bn of the amount will be expended on infrastructure, ₦166bn on health, ₦75.6bn on education and ₦31.4bn on agriculture.
He said by the provisions of the budget; agriculture is expected to generate about 6,000 jobs and appealed to the parliament to urgently pass the budget for the good of the state and its people.
Tinubu on March 18 declared a State of Emergency in Rivers State citing political unrest and the need for his government to protect key National assets.. The president also suspended Governor Siminilayi Fubara and members of the House of Assembly and appointed a sole administrator to oversee the affairs of the state for six months
More than two months into the emergency rule, peace initiatives are said to be ongoing between Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory,FCT and the Governor. Speculations are rife that the emergency rule will be lifted on or before may 29 but no one is too sure about that.
