N140m Overhead Expenditure: Abia Deputy Speaker Responds To Allegations

In a telephone chat with Flo Fm this morning, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu who is the spokesperson of the Abia State House of Assembly described the former Commissioner as a frustrated political jobber following his allegation that the state assembly receives 140million as overhead expenditure.

The former Commissioner had stated over the weekend that members of the house are receiving special money to pass annual budget and also alleged that there are cabals in the house who receives an average of 9 to 10 million naira monthly.

Responding to the allegations, the Deputy Speaker had this to say, "that the Abia House of Assembly receives 140 million is a lie from the pit of hell and from a frustrated political jobber. We do not receive such amount. My brother, there is freedom of information act and as such, if you want to know the exact amount that Abia House of Assembly receives as overhead expenditure you can apply to the account department and you will be furnished with every necessary information".

On the issue of members of the house receiving special money to pass the annual budget into law, the Deputy Speaker noted that passage of appropriation bill into Law is one of the statutory functions of the legislative arm and as such, members of Abia State House of Assembly do not receive any money to perform their duties.

Speaking on the allegation of cabals receiving certain amounts of money in the house, Rt. Hon. Uchendu responded thus,

"For the records, there is no cabal in the 7th Abia House of Assembly. The leadership of the House under Rt. Hon. Engr. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji is a very transparent one and members across all political parties can attest to this fact. And to answer your question, there is no cabal in the House and I can confirm to you that nobody is receiving such amount, whether daily, monthly or yearly".

And lastly on the allegation of bulk of the state's IGR going into private pockets, the Deputy Speaker confirmed that the House had carried out oversight function on revenue generating agencies, with their action aimed at assisting the executive in finding a lasting solution for prompt payment of salaries. He stated that the recommendations of the house were duly communicated to the executive and that it included the cancellation of contract of a certain financial consulting firm that was implicated in the mismanagement of fund and non-remittance of tax.

The Deputy Speaker frowned at the antics of former politically office holders in relaunching themselves into the political limelight. According to him, "these people would wake up any day to put up several unfounded and malicious articles just to have the attention of those in government".

He stated that the action of the former Commissioner is aimed at pitching the law makers against their constituents and wondered why some of these `Political Jobbers' always fail to point out these issues when they are serving the government.

He promised that the house will respond further on this allegations when it resumes on plenary later this month.