House Of Assembly Commission Presents N565m Budget For 2021 Fiscal Year

Legislative

House Of Assembly Commission Presents N565m Budget For 2021 Fiscal Year

The Akwa Ibom House of Assembly Service Commission led by the chairman, Mr Goddy Umoh, has presented a total budgetary sum of N565.000.000 for the 2021 fiscal year.

Umoh, a lawyer, who made the presentation before the House Committee on Finance and Appropriations recently, noted that the approved budget which stood at N215.000.000 was grossly inadequate for the commission to perform optimally, appealing for augmentation in the sum of N350 million to accommodate the proposals of the commission for 2021 fiscal year.

He expressed displeasure over the lack of accommodation for the commission, adding that it was unusual for the commission to lack office space and facilities for staff to carry out their responsibilities.

"Mr Chairman on the constitution of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Service Complex, I think this is the most critical aspect of this our budget presentation. As I speak with you, I'm sure you are aware that the commission is a tenant in the House of Assembly which is unusual. We have done some analysis to see that 20 states of the federation had their own different structures to service the activities of the House of Assembly, Umoh stated.

The chairman listed the budgeted projects to include training and development of members and staff of the commission, consultancy services for automated payroll system for the commission, purchase of a generating set, renovation of offices at the commission complex, purchase of motor vehicles for staff and the development of the library.

Others are litigation expenses, legal fees, conduct of seminars and promotion for the staff of the commission, production and printing of the annual report of the commission, purchase of equipment and furniture of the commission and the review of guidelines and handbooks of the commission among others.

He noted that the commission which was backed by the law was authorized to recruits, promotes, as well as ensure discipline of the staff. The chairman of the committee, Mr Uduak Ududoh lauded Umoh for the good works that he has done within the short period that he has assumed office commending him for the good presentation of the Budget.

Ududoh, who is the member for Ikot Abasi/Eastern Obolo State Constituency in the Assembly assured that the 2021 budgetary provisions of the commission as presented will be studied adequately, as well as ensuring that they are comfortably approved with a view to impacting positively on the staff of the commission.

The chairman was accompanied by commissioner 2, Dr Roberta Edem, commissioner 4, Mr Godwin Awah, secretary of the commission, Elder Sylvanus Akpan, head of accounts, Mrs Nkoyo Ukpong and the head of Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS), Mrs Uduak Ekpenyong among others. The chairman, Hotels and Tourism Board, Mr Ini Akpabio, presented a budgetary outlay for the 2021 fiscal year to the tune of N66 million, adding that N100 million was the budget size in 2020, but nothing was accessed.

He listed the targeted projects of the board to include Development of Ibom Children's Park, Development of Ibom Magical Park and the Development of Ibom Local Tourism among others. Also the permanent secretary, office of the Governor, Dr Nathaniel Adiakpan presented the sum of N9.3 billion for the 2021 fiscal year.

The special adviser, Bureau of Political Affairs and Social Re-orientation, Mr Amanam Nkanga, presented a budget size of N450 million for 2021 with an expected revenue of N300.000, listing the major targeted projects to include Establishment of Political Information System and Data Bank.

The committee chairman thanked all ministries, department and agencies (MDA's) for appearing for their presentations, calling on those yet to appear to endeavour to do so as penalty awaits defaulters.

He assured that the committee will do everything possible within its powers in ensuring that the 2021 budget was passed on time for the state to benefit from what was earmarked by the World Bank for states in that category.