Dwindling Revenue Worries Abia Lawmakers

The Abia State House of Assembly has expressed concern over the dwindling fortunes of the state’s internally generated revenue.

This, the Assembly wondered, in spite of the numerous avenues for funds generation by the government.

The Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr Allwell Okere, said at the monthly news conference in Umuahia that the House had set up a committee to investigate the persistent decline in the state’s revenue.

“The House recently summoned Mr Chiedozie Umeh, the Chairman of the state Board of Internal Revenue, and his response was not satisfactory.

“We do not understand why Abia  State with two commercial towns like Aba and Umuahia cannot generate N1 billion monthly, while other states not up to Abia State status generate more than N1 billion monthly,’’ Okere said.

He said the lawmakers were concerned that something must be done urgently to close up the loophole to shore up the state’s revenue to enable the government execute its projects.

Okere, who doubles as the Chairman of the committee on information, said the assembly passed three bills and adopted seven motions in the last one month, pointing out that the bills included the relocation of Abia State Government House, relocation of Umuahia Main Market to Ubani and the relocation of Umuahia automobile and allied market.

The lawmaker said the motions included the one urging the government to designate grazing reserves for herdsmen, motion on the deplorable state of federal roads in Abia State and the invitation of the controller of the Federal Ministry of Works and FERMA director.

Okere noted that the assembly adopted the motion on the shift in date for council polls because of its findings that the State Independent Electoral Commission had no budget for the election in January 2013.

“Apart from not having any budgetary provision, the delineation of political wards was inconclusive before the commission fixed the election date for January, he stated.