Amaechi decries drop in allocation from federation account

yesterday expressed concern over the drop in funds accruing to Rivers State from N20 billion to N13 billion naira, saying the situation had created a major challenge for the state on how to raise funds for people-oriented projects.

The governor, who spoke at Government House, Port Harcourt, while swearing in 10 new Permanent Secretaries in the state civil service, said his administration would continue to provide infrastructure for the state.

He said: "We need to improve on infrastructure. We need to get things going. We need to build more roads that take people out of the city of Port Harcourt. We need to build better schools for our children. 

We need to build better hospitals and employ qualified doctors. We only have about 600 doctors now, we should be aiming at 1,000."

He disclosed that the state's wage bill had increased from N2.5 billion when he assumed office to N7.8 billion today, and was expected to increase with the added salaries of the 13,200 newly recruited teachers in the state.

While urging the new Permanent Secretaries to shun corruption, the governor advised them to be loyal to the government, saying, "I am not asking you to be loyal to me.  You don't need to, but please, be loyal to government. It is important you know that the loyalty that I demand is not to me, it is to government."

Those sworn in include Jeremiah, Pius U; Michael, Nnodi; Benebo-Briggs, Margaret (Mrs); Otonyetarie, Okoye (Mrs) and Davidson, Collins O. Others are Ogo, Asoelu G; Bennibor, Ngozi O. (Mrs); Achor, Ophelia O. (Mrs); Peterside, Cordelia O. (Mrs) and Ikuru, L. R.