Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Enugu State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed the supplementary appropriation bill submitted by Gov. Peter Mbah.
The supplementary appropriation bill of 58 billion, 95 million, 482 thousand 293 naira only (58,095,482,293) was read for the first, second and third time by the lawmakers.
The bil was entitled: “The bill for a law to authorise the issuance and appropriation of the total sum of 58,095,482,293 for capital and recurrent expenditure for the year ending 31st December, 2023.”
The bill generated a lot of debate by members as the lawmakers took time to canvass for their individual Constituencies.
Some members argued that the bill will enable the state to carrying out some capital projects in the state and thereafter, passed the Bill for assent by the Governor.
Speaking, the Minority leader of the House, Iloabuchi Aniagu, said the budget would enable the state government initiate and execute more capital and developmental projects.
Aniagu noted that although the House had passed the 2023 budget, the supplementary budget would help the new administration in the state inaugurated in May 2023, to achieve its developmental target.
Okechukwu Mbah, representing Nkanu East constituency, asked his colleague to support the supplementary budget, which he said would help Governor Mbah deliver his campaign manifestos and promises to the people.
However, the members representing Oji-River and Udenu constituencies, Osita Eze and Obinna Ijele respectively while lauding the supplementary budget, lamented that their constituencies were not included in the budget.
They stressed that their constituencies were not included in the capital projects contained in the budget, despite their contribution to the economy of the State, and urged Governor Mbah not to exclude them from the scheme of things.
Also contributing, the deputy speaker of the House, Ezenta Ezeani, said the supplementary budget is the continuation of the 2023 budget, as such cannot capture new projects being agitated for.
Ezeani added that new projects would be captured in the 2024 budget, which would soon be presented by the state governor.
In a remark shortly after the passage of the budget, the Speaker of the House, Uche Ugwu, appreciated his colleagues for their contributions during the reading of the budget.
