Rivers State Sole Administrator, Ibok Ete Ibas, has stated that the state should no longer rely heavily on federal allocations to run its affairs.
He gave the charge at the weekend in Port Harcourt, where he urged the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service Board (RIRSB) to accelerate efforts on internally generated revenue (IGR) in order to reduce the state’s dependence on federal funds.
According to him, the state must embrace financial sustainability through improved tax collection, transparency, and accountability.
“The work you are about to embark on is not just about collecting taxes. It is about financial sustainability, trust, and accountability,” Ibas said.
He stressed that building public trust in the tax system remains key to boosting IGR and strengthening state development.
The Sole Administrator also directed the Rivers Microfinance Agency (RIMA), now headed by technocrat Onene Osila Oshoko, to prioritize the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the state.
He said the agency must ensure better funding opportunities for small businesses to create wealth, generate employment, and stimulate grassroots entrepreneurship.
“The Microfinance Agency has a responsibility to stimulate the local economy by improving access to credit for micro and small businesses. This will empower entrepreneurs and foster sustainable economic growth,” he said.
During the inauguration of the Boards of several state agencies, Ibas charged members to serve with integrity, urgency, and professionalism.
He emphasized that they must demonstrate public accountability while executing their duties.
The newly inaugurated Boards include the Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board (RSUBEB), Rivers State Senior Secondary Schools Board, Rivers State Internal Revenue Service Board, Rivers State Microfinance Agency, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme Board, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital Board, and the Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA).
On education, Ibas highlighted the challenges facing public schools in the state, such as overcrowded classrooms, poor infrastructure, and declining performance levels.
He called for robust data systems to track enrollment, teacher deployment, infrastructure needs, and student results.
“We must enforce discipline in our schools and address the issues of poor performance indices. A strong data system will help us achieve accurate planning and monitoring,” he said.
In the healthcare sector, the administrator described access to medical care as both a moral duty and a strategic priority.
He tasked the Contributory Health Protection Programme Board and the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital Board to deliver affordable and free healthcare, especially for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, children, the elderly, and individuals with chronic conditions.
On the issue of waste management, Ibas charged RIWAMA to focus on sanitation as a matter of public safety rather than mere aesthetics.
He said the poor state of waste disposal in Port Harcourt has generated public complaints and must be addressed urgently.
“The task before this Board is urgent and enormous. You must lead the charge to rid our cities and communities of filth. This is not just about clearing waste, it is about instituting a system of efficiency, sustainability, and discipline,” he declared.
The administrator revealed that the government had already procured modern equipment for waste collection and landfill management, in addition to constructing access roads to dump sites for better operations.
He urged the Board to explore innovative waste-to-energy solutions.
“Around the world, waste is being transformed into power and products. Our state cannot be left behind,” he added.
Ibas further encouraged all newly appointed Board members to show commitment in delivering their mandates to the people of Rivers State.
He reminded them that their work must be guided by integrity, innovation, and the need to restore public confidence in governance.