The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, on Thursday, passed for first and second reading the 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Bill of N150 billion presented to it by Governor Umo Eno.
This was after the lawmakers debated the general principle of the bill, shortly after the Clerk of the House, Mrs. Nsikak-Abasi Orok, read Governor Eno’s letter seeking the House’s approval of the budget.
The Bill which was given accelerated hearing requested lawmakers to consider and approve an augmentation of the 2023 budget, authorizing the Governor to appropriate and issue out N50,310,140,850.00 (Fifty Billion, three hundred and ten million, one hundred and forty thousand, eight hundred and fifty Naira only from the consolidated revenue fund and N99,689,859,150.00(Ninety-nine billion, six hundred and fifty Naira) from the capital development fund, totalling N150,000,000,000.00
A breakdown of the figure shows a recommended augmentation of N50,310,140,850 being proposed for recurrent expenditure, while 99,689,859,150 is proposed for capital expenditure.
Leading the debate, the Deputy House Leader, Barr. Otobong Bob, highlighted environment and erosion control projects, roads Infrastructure, health care, education, rural development, agriculture and security which are captured in the ARISE AGENDA of the Umo Eno administration as some key areas the supplementary budget seeks to address.
Bob therefore appealed to his colleagues to pass the Bill to enable the executive arm meet its obligation.
When put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, it got the support of majority of the lawmakers and was referred to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation for further legislative work.
Also passed for second reading at plenary was a bill to amend Traditional Rulers law, Cap. 155 Laws of Akwa Ibom State 2022, and for other matters connected therewith.
Meanwhile, the House has called on Governor Eno to direct the implementation of the Local Government Administration Laws of Akwa Ibom State, especially the provision contained in Section 78, Cap. 90 which mandates principal officers of council areas to reside in their local government headquarters.
The House particularly mandated the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to commence strict enforcement of the provisions of the extant law by ensuring that adequate sanctions are served on any erring council official.
The Law states; “The principal of the Local Government shall reside within Local Government Area’s Headquarters and a contravention of this section shall be deemed to be a gross misconduct”.
Speaker Otong had mandated the Clerk, Mrs Orok, to communicate the resolution of the House to Governor Eno after the House received a motion brought before it by Kufre-Abasi Edidem, the Deputy Speaker, and member representing Itu State Constituency.
The motion titled, “Urgent need for strict Enforcement of the provisions of Akwa Ibom State Local Government (Administration) Law which mandates principal officers to reside within their Local Government Area Headquarters”, was seconded by Mfon Idung of Etim Ekpo/Ika state constituency.
Edidem, in his motion, observed that the good intention of Governor Eno which targets meaningful development of the grassroots might suffer setback if key officials at the local government councils fail the citizens, hence the need for them to operate closer to the people.
Edidem noted, with regret, that all the infrastructure that were provided at the security villages for the principal officers of local councils by past regimes of the state for the purpose of bring governance closer to the people are deteriorating and lying waste because there are unoccupied .
Similarly, the House received a motion calling on the State government to reconstruct the Ikot Akpan Abia/Oboyo Ikot Ita Road, sponsored by Hon Eric Akpan of Nsit Ibom State Constituency.
In another development, the House stood-down a motion for resolution to provide agricultural funding through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP) Funding for Oil Palm and Maize Commodities Farmers in Akwa Ibom State, sponsored by Ubong Essien Attah of Ibesikpo Asutan State Constituency and 19 others.
The House has adjourned plenary to be reconvened on Thursday, 21st September.
