Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, has signed the 2025 appropriation bill passed by the House of Assembly into law.
On 31 October, Governor Diri presented to the assembly a budget estimate of N689,440,348,916.30.
The assembly, however, raised the estimates by N10,132,818,675 and passed the total sum of N699,573,167,592.
Speaking during the ceremony in Government House, Yenagoa, yesterday, the governor said signing the bill before the end of the current year was in line with his administration’s policy of operating its budget between January and December, as well as its commitment to transparency and good governance.
The governor said the budget was not just a financial statement but a law that must be implemented.
He lauded the speaker and members of the Assembly for the timely passage, saying he was satisfied with their performance and urged them not to relent in their service to the state.
While directing all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government to ensure that they make reference to the budget in their proposals, he expressed optimism that the budget will impact positively on the people of the state.
His words: “Today, in line with our policy, we have gone through all the processes to have our budget and I am honoured to sign this appropriation bill tagged, “Budget of assured prosperity” into law.
“With the signing of this budget, I reaffirm my administration’s commitment to transparency and good governance.
“We have prioritised critical sectors that will enhance the quality of life of our people. Our projects must have an impact on the lives of our people.
“Mr. Speaker, your leadership is speaking loudly for you. The house is very prolific. I commend your diligence and timely passage of the budget. It reflects your dedication to serve Bayelsa State”.
Earlier, the Speaker, Abraham Ingobere, stated that as required by law, the 2025 budget estimates were scrutinised thoroughly and passed into law in the interest of the state.
He remarked that after careful consideration, the Assembly increased the figure of the budget presented by the Executive by 1.5 per cent, stressing that if implemented, it was capable of transforming the economic fortunes of the state.
Ingobere thanked the governor for making resources available for the training and retraining of institutions, which has brought about greater productivity, and assured the executive of a better working relationship in 2025.
Similarly, Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has signed the 2025 Appropriation Bill of N369. 9 billion into law following successful passage by the House of Assembly.
Speaking during the ceremony at the Government House in Gombe, the governor described the budget as a blueprint for economic growth and social development, stating that the appropriation law had reflected his administration’s resolve to deepen its development agenda as it focuses on sectors that directly impact the lives of the citizens.
He commended the House of Assembly for the swift passage of the appropriation bill, emphasising that since 2019, the harmonious relationship between the legislature and the executive has been instrumental in achieving the remarkable milestones recorded by his administration.
He also informed the lawmakers that by January, the government would release the performance report for the 2024 budget with the optimism that the performance would be incredible while being confident of achieving an ‘A’ rating.
The Speaker, Abubakar Mohammed Luggerewo, said the House has increased the budget from the earlier N320.1 billion submitted by Governor Yahaya to N369.9 billion to meet the aspirations of the people.
He commended the Governor’s leadership and the synergy between the executive and legislative arms in the budget’s passage and other legislative endeavours, assuring the public of the Assembly’s commitment to robust oversight to ensure effective implementation.
