Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Barely two months after declaring emergency rule in Rivers State, and appointing a Sole Administrator to oversee the affairs of the state, President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, sought the consideration and approval of the Senate and House of Representatives for N1.48 trillion appropriation bill for Rivers State.
The request was contained in a letter read at plenary by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
According to Mr President, the request, when approved, would be used “by the Emergency Rule Government of Rivers State to provide for education, agriculture, provision of free drugs, and others.”
Akpabio explained that ₦166 billion was earmarked for health in the fiscal year, ₦75.6 billion for education, ₦31.4 billion for agriculture and ₦5 billion for free drug distribution to all categories of people in the state.
After reading the letter, the Senate President referred the budgetary proposal to Senate Committee on Emergency Rule in Rivers State, directing the committee to report back as soon as practicable.
