By Abiola Olawale
The immediate past commissioner for works of Rivers State, Alabo George-Kelly, has revealed the real reason he resigned from his position in the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The former commissioner said he couldn’t work with Fubara because his administration was allegedly spending money without appropriation. He pointed out that Rivers State has no budget for the 2024 fiscal year. But experts say that the law empowers a sitting governor to expend money up to about 50% of the State funds without budgetary approvals from the State House of Assembly for the smooth running of government.
The New Diplomat recalls that Fubara had presented the 2024 appropriation bill to just five lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The five lawmakers loyal to Fubara subsequently approved N800 billion as the state’s budget for the 2024 fiscal year.
It would be recalled also that a federal high court in Abuja nullified the 2024 budget. The court asked the governor to re-present the budget to the constituted house of assembly under Martin Amaewhule, speaker of the assembly.
Similarly, as part of a peace deal brokered by President Bola Tinubu in an attempt to reconcile the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike and Fubara, it was agreed that the budget would be re-presented to the House of Assembly.
However, speaking with the members of the press, George-Kelly said the governor failed to re-present to the House of Assembly. He said it was a breach of the procurement law for him to be awarding contracts when there was no budget.
He said: “Part of the resolution was that the budget should be re-presented to the correct house of assembly. Was that done up till now? No,” he said.
“So if there is no appropriation, if there is no budget, how are you spending? That is my worry.
“How can I serve in that kind of government? I will be picked up one day because you have immunity. I am approving projects and signing award letters without appropriation which is a breach of a procurement law.
“I don’t have immunity so I can be picked. Probably that could have been one of the reasons for my resignation.
“Today, tomorrow, next tomorrow, my loyalty lies irreversibly with Chief Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike,” George-Kelly said.
