The Rivers State House of Assembly have yesterday approved a supplementary budget of N104,287,285,108 billion for Governor Nyesom Wike.
The Assembly passed the bill following a request letter the governor sent to the lawmakers.
Wike said the supplementary budget would enable him to execute some capital projects.
To give the bill express approval, the Assembly suspended Order 50 of its Standing Rule.
The lawmakers noted that “since it is for capital-oriented projects”, they had to pass the bill into law without much ado.
After a debate among the lawmakers, Speaker Ikwunyi Owaji-Ibani split the Assembly and the 22 lawmakers present unanimously voted for the bill.
The Speaker said the budget was meant to cater for capital projects.
He directed the Assembly’s Clerk to send an approval letter to the governor on the passed budget.
On March 9, former Governor Chibuike Amaechi signed into law N335 billion for capital and recurrent expenditure.
The former governor had presented on January 15 an Appropriation Bill of N335 billion, but the Seventh Assembly later increased it to N338 billion to enable the Executive execute vital projects.
Also yesterday, the Assembly screened and cleared two commissioner-nominees – Dr Odamene Theophilus Mienebari and Dr Austin Tam-George.
Based on Wike’s request, the Assembly also approved five additional special advisers for the governor.