Wike signs N555.6bn 2023 budget, seeks to deliver more infrastructure

Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, has signed the 2023 appropriation bill of N555.66 billion into law.

Wike also assented to the child’s rights bill No.6 of 2022, to protect all children in the state from all forms of abuse.

Kelvin Ebiri, the governor’s spokesperson on media, said Wike signed the two legal instruments at the executive council chambers of the government house in Port Harcourt on Friday.

Wike said his administration will leave no stone unturned in implementing the 2023 budget to deliver more infrastructure in the state.

“That means that we have no choice but to robustly follow the appropriation law in order to tackle most of the challenges that have to do with infrastructure, ” he said.

“We are in December now, so we believe that by January we should start implementing the 2023 appropriation law.

“I’m sure, with the number of projects we are doing, and funds are being provided, we believe by the grace of God, we would have accomplished what we are set out to do.”

Wike, speaking further on the state’s child’s rights law No. 6 of 2022, noted the gross child abuse, indecent assault of children, and terrible experiences they are subjected to when they are forced into labour.

He said with the signing of the bill into law, the state can inaugurate the family court.

“Because this law had not been amended that is why the family court cannot sit. So, the family court will be inaugurated on [the] 19th of this month since a bill has been passed and I have assented to it, ” he said.

“Here, we do not understand that children too are human beings. They ought to have their rights. I’m sure with this passage a lot of people will understand that things cannot be done as usual.

“Some parents do not like to send their children to school. They would rather like them to be on the road. This reminds me, let me say no community or local government can bring out their children from their classes to come out and wave at us when visiting for project commissioning.

“If the project is inside the school, that the children can appreciate, is a different thing. But to bring the children to the road to come and wait for whoever, that is not acceptable at all.”

Wike, therefore, directed the state commissioner for education to instruct head teachers and principals of schools to desist from bringing pupils and students out to the road to wave at whoever was visiting communities to inaugurate projects.

He also lauded the tireless efforts shown by members of the state house of assembly in considering the details of the budget within two weeks of its presentation and expeditiously passing it into law.

Such collaboration, Wike said, is what is always required between the arms of government to achieve the overall goal of serving the needs of the governed.

“That is why we have always said that it is important to have collaboration between the arms of government for the interest of the state, not for the interest of any particular person or group of persons, ” he said.