C’River Assembly Passes Legislature, Judiciary Funds Management Bills

The Cross River House of Assembly has passed the Legislature Funds Management Bill 2021 as well as the Judiciary Funds Management Bill 2021.
The two bills were passed during plenary yesterday in Calabar sequel to the presentation of the reports of the two adhoc committees earlier set up by the House to carry out indepth appraisals of the bills.
According to our correspondent, Speaker of the House, Mr Eteng Jonah-Williams, had earlier set up the Special Committees on Legislature and Judiciary Funds Management to look into the two bills and report to the House accordingly.
The Legislature Fund Management bill was sponsored by Mr Hilary Bisong, member representing Boki II State Constituency, who also doubles as the Chairman of the adhoc committee.
Bisong, while presenting his report, stated that the State Assembly on Feb. 19, 2015 joined its counterparts across the country and voted to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
He explained that the voting was to provide for the funding of State Houses of Assembly directly from the Consolidated Revenue Funds.
He added that the constitution was amended accordingly.
According to him, the above constitutional provision was given a boost by President Muhammadu Buhari, when he signed Executive Order 10 of 2020, granting financial autonomy to the Legislature and the Judicial arms of government.
The bill on Judiciary Funds Management was sponsored by Dr Itam Abang, who represents Boki I State Constituency.
While deliberating on the two bills, the legislators observed that the financial autonomy of both the Legislature and Judiciary would greatly enhance the performance of the two arms of government.
On his part, the Speaker expressed satisfaction that the bills were passed during his time.
He reiterated that the passage of the bills was a landmark achievement for the 9th Assembly.
Jonah-Williams further expressed appreciation to the Members as well as legislative staff for working hard to ensure the passage of the bills.
He, thereafter, directed the Clerk, Mr Bassey Ekpenyong, to forward clean copies of the bills to Gov. Ben Ayade of the state for his assent.