by crossriverwatch admin
Barely two weeks after it was presented by the Council Chairman, Hon Mrs Edith Amadi, the Abi Legislative House has passed the Local Government’s 2014 appropriation bill into bye-law.
The sum of Two Billion, Six Hundred Thirty Three Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty Seven Thousand, Two Hundred and Three Naira (N2, 633,987,203) representing an increase of 7.71% above last year’s budget, was earmarked for this year’s expenditure.
Speaking after the passage recently on the floor of the Abi Legislative Chamber, the Leader of the Legislative House, Hon Pastor Joshua Akali Igboke observed that the House decided to give the appropriation bill accelerated consideration because it was critical to the well being of the council area, quipping that without such no progress would be made by the present council administration.
Hon Igboke disclosed that members of the House went through pain staking sessions as well as made selfless sacrifices to ensure that the document was duly and dispassionately considered clause by clause and subsequently passed into law while praising his colleagues for their resilience during the duration of the exercise.
The leader, who emphasized on the significance of appropriation and legislative scrutiny, maintained that no given government can succeed in its administration without effective budgeting and meticulous implementation while calling on the Abi Executive arm to ensure 100%implementation of the council’s 2014 budget.
He appealed to the leadership and members of all House standing committees to effectively carry out their oversight functions on the Executive as it would help to facilitate the full implementation of the budget.
Hon Igboke who added that although the House had confidence in the ability of the Council Chairman Hon Edith Amadi to profitably drive the budget implementation, however raised concerns over paucity of funds as a potential albatross.
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