The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, has called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara to expedite the submission of the state’s medium-term expenditure framework and the 2024 Appropriation Bill.
The lawmakers, who resumed their sitting on Tuesday, made the demand after deliberating on the delayed submission of the state’s audited accounts by the Public Accounts Committee.
While granting the committee an additional three weeks to complete its work, the Assembly emphasised the urgency of receiving the budget documents to ensure timely and effective financial management.
In addition to the budget request, the Assembly also resolved to notify Governor Fubara of their planned recess, ensuring it aligns with his schedule.
The lawmakers further gave first reading to two bills: the Traditional Rulers Law (amendment) bill and the Advertisement and Use of State-owned Property (Prohibition) (repealed) bill, according to a statement issued by Martins Wachukwu, media aide to the Speaker.
The Traditional Rulers Law amendment, sponsored by Majority Leader Major Jack, seeks to modernise the law and adapt it to “current realities.”
Meanwhile, the Advertisement and Use of State-owned Property (Prohibition) (repealed) bill was sponsored and presented by the Member representing Port Harcourt Constituency II, Tonye Adoki.
Speaking on the Order of the Day, the Speaker, Amaewhule, cited relevant Sections of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as altered, which empowered the State House of Assembly to receive a Report of the audited account of the State, and, therefore urged the House Committee on Public Accounts to investigate why the Auditor-General of the State has not submitted the 2022 audited account of the State to the House.
Recall that Fubara had, in December 2023, signed into law the 2024 Appropriation Bill of N800bn.
This came a day after he presented the budget estimates to the State House of Assembly led by Edison Ehie.
The signing ceremony was held on Thursday in the conference room of the Governor’s Office at the Government House.
