Ebonyi Assembly Passes N99.8bn Budget

The Ebonyi State House
of Assembly last Thursday, passed the 2014 budget of N99.8billion sent to it by Governor Martin Elechi.
The ‘Budget of Stabilisation’, which was presented to the House on December 23, 2013  had a marginal reduction of 4.45 per cent, amounting to N104.3 billion compared to that of 2013.
Chairman of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Chief Oliver Nwachukwu, (PDP-Abakaliki North), presented the committee’s report on the budget to the House for deliberation. “We consulted relevant agencies responsible for the drafting of the budget such as the State Planning Commission, State Ministry of Finance, Director of Budget, among others.
“We pointed out our findings to the bodies and they reviewed them before we arrived at this final draft”, he said.
He added that the committee painstakingly carried out its duties considering the technical nature of the budget.
“We urge the House to accept this final draft as the recommendations would ensure a successful implementation of the budget by the executive arm of the government”, he said.
The House passed the budget after deliberation on the committee’s recommendations.
The motion was moved by Chief Sam Nwali, the House Leader and seconded by Mr Chris Usulor (PDP-Ezza South).
Speaker of the House Chief Chukwuma Nwazunku, commended members of the committee for painstakingly carrying out their duties.
“The 2014 Appropriation Bill, having undergone all legislative procedures, stands authorised, as I enjoin the executive arm of government to ensure its strict implementation. “The Clerk of the House is hereby directed to prepare and send a memo on the passage to the state governor”, he said.