2010 Budget: Bayelsa Assembly Okays N187bn

The Bayelsa State House of Assembly has passed  the State’s Appropriation Bill into law.  At  the final approval, the House jacked up the  proposal from N178.56 billion submitted  to it last December by Chief Timipre Sylva to N187.5 billion.

The Assembly Deputy Leader, Hon. Hawkins kalabo representing Southern Ijaw Constituency II, set the  ball rolling when he moved that the bill be introduced for third reading for the House to consider its adoption.

His motion was seconded by his colleague representing Southern Ijaw Constituency Hon. Kroukia Dorgu.

Thereafter, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Werinipre Seibarugu directed  the reading of the bill for members to make final impact and at the end of which, the House overwhelmingly endorsed  the passage of the Appropriation Bill.

 Also, the state Judiciary Workers Bill 2007 was passed into law.  The bill seeks a review of  salaries, allowances and fringe benefits paid to the state judicial workers.

 The passage of the bill follows the adoption of the report of the House Joint Committee on Judicial and Justice and Public Service and Establishment Committees on the Judicial Workers bill at day’s sittings.

The motion for the bill’s third reading was moved by Hon. Hawkins Kalabo, and seconded by Franklin Otele representing Yenagoa Constituency III.

The Speaker, Hon. Seibarugu, presiding, noted overwhelming debate of members in favour of the bill called for voting after necessary correction had been made.

Addressing the House later, the Speaker expressed appreciations to members for their commitment and sense of duties in ensuring the passage of the two bills into which according to him would help to facility the trend of development in the state.

He remarked that because of the importance of the bills, especially that of appropriation, they forteited their Christmas break.

The speaker lamented that going on break had always been misinterpreted by critics in the state who accused the lawmakers of incompetence and laziness.

“One thing with going on break is that any time we embark on break, some people say that this House is not doing anything, but they have forgotten that many other Houses of Assembly hard since gone on their break”, he said.

He therefore, announce a break of one month that will expire on April 20, after which the House will reconvene for its normal duties.