Enugu Assembly passes N17bn supplementary budget

The Enugu State House of Assembly, yesterday passed into law, “a bill for a law to authorise the issuance and appropriation of the total sum Seventeen billion, ten million (N17,010,000.000.00), only for capital and recurrent expenditure for Enugu State of Nigeria for the year ending on 31st day of December, 2018.”

The virement thus approved is to enable the executive carry out more development projects in the state.

The House had earlier passed the N103.5 billion 2018 budget, which is more than the N98.5 billion budget estimate presented in December 2017 by Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

Debating on the merits of the bill, members of the House posited that Gov. Ugwuanyi was doing a yeoman’s job in using scarce resources to provide the needed democracy dividend, and pointed out that he ought to be encouraged by passing the supplementary appropriation bill into law.

Member representing Uzo-Uwani, Hon. John-Kevin Ukuta, expressed joy that N7 billion was added to the capital expenditure for works which would enhance the road projects the government is doing in his local government alone not to talk of other numerous projects across the state.

“I am excited that N7 billion was added to the capital expenditure for works. This will go a long way in completing the ongoing road projects in Uzo-Uwani.

The UDI North representative in the House, Johnball Nwagu also expressed optimism that more money was voted for capital expenditure, which he said should be more than the recurrent expenditure.

The Speaker, Hon. Edward Uchenna Ubosi, thanked his colleagues for their contributions to the debate on the bill, especially the leader of the House who presented the executive bill for consideration and passage.

“I want to thank the mover of the motion for using the standing order to ensure that the bill saw the light of the day.

“I also wish to thank the executive for the way they have been managing the finances of the state,” Ubosi said.