The Rivers State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) says it has been vindicated by the recent declaration by Gov. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi that unavailability of funds has slowed down projects in the State.
In a statement signed by the state publicity secretary, Mr. Jerry Needam, the party maintained that it has been justified for raising alarm that Rivers State Government is broke.
Despite the huge sums of money that have accrued to the State over time. We are extremely
worried that same Governor Amaechi who claimed to be saving about one billion naira monthly could turn around to declare the government treasury empty.
“We are also worried that Governor Amaechi who boasted that his problem was not money but what to do with it could be so broke that he is raising alarm.
“What then is the justification for the elaborate Supreme Court victory celebration in Port Harcourt recently and the plan to purchase two more private jets?
“We challenge Governor Amaechi to explain the reason behind the poor budget implementation,” ACN said.
The party alleged that in 2011, ministries and agencies of government including the judiciary were unable to access 50 percent of budget provision, whereas, the State government in the same year went for a supplementary budget.
We further demand to know what led to the supplementary budget in 2011 and why there were expenses outside the budgetary provisions.
In this last quarter of the year 2012, only 30 percent of the budgetary provisions has been released to the ministries, agencies etc of the Rivers State government.
The party further said it noted with sadness that in spite of government breaches of the budget, the governor of the state is crying out for lack of funds.
‘We also have it on good authority the desire of the Rivers State Government to go for another round of supplementary budget, when the 2012 budget has not been faithfully implemented.
It called for a probe of the finances of the Government of Rivers State, under Amaechi, now that he has confirmed that the state is broke.
Recall that Amaechi had at a town hall meeting with Rivers indigenes in Abuja at the weekend lamented that the unavailability of funds has slowed down projects in Rivers State.