By Kevin Pepple
The 2025 Budget estimates in Rivers State is expected to target key sectors of agriculture for food security, education for the reduction of illiteracy and out-of-school children, and health for the prevention and eradication of many diseases to reduce malnutrition, infant and maternal, which according to him would combine to enhance an effective labor force.
The State governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara gave the hint during a One-Day Public Consultation and Pre-budget Workshop on the 2025 Budget Estimates at the NULGE Consulate in Port Harcourt at the Weekend.
Speaking through his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Nma Odu, Governor Fubara said under his watch, the state has witnessed a renaissance in governance that places the people at the heart of every decision.
He said in 2024 his Administration prudently managed an appropriation of Eight Hundred Billion, Three Hundred and Ninety-Two Million, Four Hundred and Eight-Five Thousand, Four Hundred and Thirty –Three naira, One Kobo (800,392,485,433.01) which is a remarkable increase from the 2023 figures, noting that the exponential increase reflects his Administration’s expanding capacity to meet the aspirations of the Rivers People and commended the State Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning for putting the Public Consultation and Pre Budget Workshop on the 2025 Budget Estimates together.
According to the State Chief Executive, the government vision in 2025 would be anchored on four cardinal principles, which include Visionary Leadership and Strategic Governance, Economic Innovation and Fiscal Sustainability, Social Justice and Inclusive Development, as well as Transformational Infrastructure and Environmental Stewardship.
Governor Fubara, who insisted that his commitment to modernization is unwavering, said the implementation of the 2025 updated NGF Automated budget template and our alignment with international Public Sector Accounting Standards Position Rivers State at the vanguard of public financial management in Nigeria.
He said in the spirit of participatory democracy various stakeholders have been invited to the programme, stressing that they are not just planning a budget but crafting the future of the State.
In his address, the State Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning, Sir Dr. Peter Medde said despite the dwindling revenue profile over the last two years Governor Fubara has continued to weather out the storm of the socio-economic hardship through the prudent utilization of limited resources of the State, proper prioritization, investment promotion, security and the implementation of people-oriented programs and projects which has resulted myriads of both completed and ongoing projects, across the 23 LGAs
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