…as Appropriation Bill Scales Second Reading
The Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uche Ugwu urges lawmakers to take their oversight functions seriously as this is in the interest of the electorates they represent.
Ugwu said this on Tuesday when the bill for a law to make provision for the sum of nine hundred and seventy-one billion, eighty-four million naira only (N971,084,000,000.00) to the services of the Enugu State Government of Nigeria for the year ending 31st December 2025 and for other related purposes (HB 20, 2024) was read and scaled through second reading.
Committing the Appropriation bill to the House Committee on Finance and appropriation to organize a budget defense and report back to the House on Tuesday 17th of December, 2024, the Speaker commended his colleagues who balanced the debate by not only pointing out the performance of the 2024 budget but also areas lawmakers need to improve on.
During the debate, the majority of the lawmakers eulogized the Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah dexterity in achieving over 80% of the 2024 budget even as they repose confidence in him to achieve more in 2025 with the proposed budget.
However, commending the year 2024 budget performance, the member representing Ezeagu Constituency, Barrister Chima Obieze pointed out salient issues stating that the lawmakers must compliment the State Governor’s efforts in driving development in the state.
“Knowing that it is the destiny, future, and welfare of the people that we carry on our head, it becomes imperative that we take it very seriously.”
“We need to be sober in passing the 2025 budget; we must reflect on the successes and failures of the 2024 budget to improve on the present budget to give our people a budget that is working,” Obieze said.
Barrister Obieze passionately urged his colleagues to constructively carry out their oversight functions as this will bring to fore Executives appointed by the Governor that are not delivering as expected of them by the Governor.
“I think this House is too lenient with the members of the Executives; we are not doing what we ought to do.”
“We must not think that being firm in our oversight function means we are antagonizing the administration. No, we are helping the Governor to drive home his agenda because there is lots of sabotage happening in Government.”
“We want Governor Peter Mbah to succeed and how best can we do this if not to checkmate the activities of the people he has appointed? Everything Peter Mbah is doing in the state is for the people and we are here for the people who we must speak for.”
The member representing Ezeagu Constituency also called on political appointees to know that they are public servants, not lords; they must discharge their duties in humility not arrogance.
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