Abia Proposed Budget Passes Second Reading as Commissioner Gives Break Down of Proposed Budget to Assembly

However before the finance commissioner started his presentation the Speaker expressed strong reservations over reports that an invitation that was given to the Commissioner for Finance by the House Committee on Health was not honoured, saying under no circumstance will the Assembly under his leadership accept such treatment of any of its Committees.

Dr Aham Uko, the Commissioner for Finance promptly apologised over his inability to honour the Committee's invitation saying the date must have clashed with his meeting of the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) in Abuja. He promised to honour the invitation on a new date the Committee may set.

The Commissioner after his apology went ahead to give the proposed budget breakdown after which he took questions from some Members present including Hon Solomon Akpulonu, Hon Emeka Okoroafor, Member representing Isuikwuato State Constituency among others.

On his part the Speaker ,Rt Hon Chinedum Orji expressed happiness about the work of the Commissioner of Finance and his team, saying, "The Abia State House of Assembly is happy with the work you and your team are doing particularly the implementation of timely payment of salaries and subventions to workers and institutions even though there's still ample room for improvement.

"We will continue to have a robust relationship with you as long as the trend continues. We will however not hesitate to invite you for explanations and possible actions should the trend be hampered in any way. If there's anything that will form a cog in the wheel of State progress, do not hesitate to let us know so that we can all help to nip such in the bud."Please, continue in the progressive trajectory so that we can all help Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to succeed", Rt Hon Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji said.

The Abia State 2021 Appropriation Bill, after the commissioners presentation passed its Second Reading and was committed to the committee of the whole for further legislative deliberations.