Orji Signs 2010 Budget

Governot Theodore Orji of Abia State has signed into law, the State’s 2010 Appropriation Bill which was slightly increased by the legislature into law.

The bill which was passed by the Abia State House of Assembly in Mach was increased from the initial budget estimate of N60,526,563 to N65,702,309 by the lawmakers.

Presenting the 2010 appropriation bill to the governor for his assent in Government House, Umuahia, Thursday, the Speaker of the Abia House of Assembly, Chief Agwu U. Agwu, explained that the House increased the total budget outlay after due consultations with the state’s Planning Commission in order to capture the Excess Crude oil fund accruable to the state which was originally not included as part of the revenue.

The speaker, who said the inclusion of the fund has made it possible for the increase of capital estimate added that funding of salan for certain workers that was hitherto omitted in the fisciacal estimates was also accommodated.

‘With this 58.3 per cent recurrent and 42.7 per cent capital estimates budget, it is our strong belief that government will continue the  good work of tackling the challenges of road rehabilitation and construction, rural electrification, water supply, health care delivery, agriculture and education among other vital sectors of the economy, with a view to giving Abians the desired democratic dividends this fiscal year’, he said.

Agwu also said that the provisions of the 2010 appropriation bill are meant to help the state government fulfil its campaign promises to the different constituencies especially if it seeks fresh mandate from the electorate in the 2011 general elections.

He said the present House of Assembly has so far passed 50 bills and over 100 resolutions.

After signing the 2010 Appropriation Bill into law, Orji described the exercise as a milestone in the life of the administration.

He expressed gratitude to the House for its cooperation with the executive arm of the government, saying this has contributed to the achievement recorded by his administration.

He stated that the 2010 budget is a budget of expectation and pledged that the budget will be religiously implemented.

According to him, the government has put measures in place to ensure strict implementation of the budget and charged all those responsible for the implementation of the budget to ensure strict compliance to the implementation.