Ebonyi Assembly Approves Gov’s Request To Withdraw 2015 Budget Proposal

GOV. DAVE UMAHI
GOV. DAVE UMAHI

The Ebonyi House of Assembly has granted the request of Gov. Dave Umahi to withdraw the 2015 budget proposal submitted by former Gov. Martin Elechi in December, 2014.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the immediate past House of Assembly failed to approve the budget as it claimed that officials of the past administration failed to defend the proposal.

The Leader of the House, Mr Joseph Nwaobashi, read a letter from the governor requesting the withdrawal and subsequent review of the budget estimates.

In their separate reactions, Messrs Chief Francis Nwifuru (PDP-Ezza North East) and Luke Nkwegu (PDP-Abakaliki North) supported the withdrawal of the budget by the governor.

According to Nkwegu, the review will help the government to make estimates that will reflect current economic realities in the state.

Mr Christian Oselebe, (PDP-Ohaukwu South) urged members to support withdrawal of the bill, but called on the executive arm to make the proposals to reflect ‘bottom-top’ approach.

“This implies that their development proposals should start from the grassroots before getting to the urban areas to ensure that they touch the people positively”, he said.

Speaker of the House, Mr Ogbonnia Nwifuru, passed the motion supporting the withdrawal and urged the Clerk of the House to relay the resolution to the governor.

In a related development, Nwaobashi, the House Leader, also read another letter from the governor requesting for the appointment of six Senior Special Advisers.

The members also made various contributions on the issue and adopted the motion enabling the governor to appoint the advisers.

The House also re-constituted the committee set up by the immediate past House of Assembly to investigate the financial dealings of the 13 local government areas and development centers.

The committee, made up of 11 members, is headed by the Deputy Speaker, Chief Obasi Odefa. (NAN)