A'Ibom Assembly Okays N114.5billion billion for 2017

By Mfonobong Ukpong

A bill for a law to make supplementary provision for the service of Akwa Ibom State government for the year ending on 31st December, 2017 has been passed into law by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.

The bill which has an outlay of N114.500 billion, was passed on Thursday by the lawmakers following the consideration of the report of the House Committee on
Appropriation and Finance.

It is made up of a capital expenditure size of N111.500 billion, while recurrent
expenditure is N3 billion. The Supplementary appropriation as passed by the House, raises the total revised budget size to N485,792 billion, made up of N91.424 billion for recurrent services and N313.498 billion for capital expenditure.

It would be recalled that Governor Udom Emmanuel had forwarded a Supplementary appropriation estimate of N114 billion to the assembly for consideration and passage.

Following the recommendation of the Finance and Appropriation Committee and adoption by the House, an augmentation of N500,000,000 (Five hundred million) was made for the "provision of a standard press centre and a modern clinic in the House of Assembly
complex", Speaker Luke explained.

The House examined the revenue in which the proposed supplementary appropriation is to be funded and found
that the total revised recurrent revenue projection of N313.498 billion from the original provision of N201.997 billion is realizable having made actual collection of N129.930 billion as June, 2017.

The lawmakers noted that the bulk of the increase is expected to come from the enhanced revenues received by the state government from grants, derivation and refunds from excess Paris Club loan deduction.

The capital expenditure outlay as approved is to sustain the current pace of infrastructural development,
industrialization, and human capacity development across the state.

Some prioritized projects and programmes that were not covered by the initial Provisions have been captured in the Supplementary provision.
Also at plenary, the House ratified the appointment of Mr. Aniedi Abasi Ikoiwak as Chairman of the Akwa Ibom
State Independent Electoral Commission.

Six other nominees whose name were forwarded to the House including, Patrick Ifon, Udo, Matthew Casmir, Usoro
Ukpanah, Sunday Edet Enidiok, Dr. Mrs. Faith Umoh, and Elder . Eyaekop Umanah were also cleared by the
House for appointment as members of the state electoral body.

Their confirmation was sequel to the submission of report by the House Committee on Justice, Judiciary,
Human rights and Public petitions headed by Hon. Aniefiok Dennis.

Reacting, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Barr. Onofiok Luke, thanked Chairmen and members of the the House Committee on Appropriation and Finance, and that of
Judiciary, Human rights and Public petitions, as well as entire members of the House for their painstaking effort which led to the successful passage of the Supplementary budget and the screening and confirmation of the nominees for AKISIEC job.

He said the House was going to give supports to the electoral body to deliver on its November 11 mandate.

He announced that the House was proceeding on a working recess commencing from Thursday 27th July,
2017, as lawmakers would be resuming for plenary on 12th September.

Barr. Luke thanked his colleagues for the support they have accorded him in the past two years, and assured Akwa Ibom people of the commitment of the House to a more people oriented legislative engagement during the third legislative year and which is expected to commence
in September.

He applauded the bond of unity existing
amongst the 26 members of the House devoid of rancor.

"We have proven critics and sonics wrong. They have thought that by now we should have been fighting. It is
not by might, and i return glory to God who used you as vessels to make me first among equal.

It is my hope that when we resume for the third legislative year as we come
back from recess, we will do more for Akwa Ibom people".