Port Harcourt - Gov. Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers said the welfare package his administration had for the people was to provide them with basic infrastructure and not to share state funds to individuals.
Amaechi made the clarification in Port Harcourt during the quarterly interactive forum with NGOs in the state at Government House, Port Harcourt.
The governor said the infrastructure scheme involved the provision of water, roads, good education, health facilities and electricity, among others to the people.
He said the decision of the government not to give money to the public had provoked a lot of pressures and sentiments to the extent that those who were benefiting from such gestures before now, were looking for ways to run down the administration.
“A lot of the people that are out of government are putting pressure on the system and they want to come back, not because they have anything to offer the state, but because they want to be part of the sharing of state funds,” Amaechi said.
Amaechi said government’s responsibility at the moment was to prudently and efficiently manage available resources in such a way that it would be beneficial to all.
He expressed regret that 41 years after the creation of Rivers State , it still lacked social facilities such as water, health care, electricity and good education.
“No matter the antics of detractors and the pressure to share physical cash, my administration will remain focused in its quest to make life more meaningful for the people by doing more projects in the rural communities,” Amaechi said.
He expressed happiness that the security situation in the state had improved tremendously with the presence of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF).
The governor pointed out that the interest of government was to ensure that the situation was completely arrested.
Earlier, Mr. Chuma Chinye, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Ethics and Good Governance, said the forum was in furtherance of the governor’s promise to interact with NGOs on quarterly basis.
He said the forum was to enable the government to explain its programmes to them and get their views and suggestions.
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