A’Ibom assembly passes N700bn Appropriation Bill for 2023

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly at a plenary on Thursday evening passed the 2023 appropriation bill of N700 billion into law.

The 2023 budget as passed by the assembly is made up of N344.005 billion for recurrent expenditure and N355.995 billion for capital expenditure.

The appropriation as passed amounted to an increase of 0.4 per cent of the initially proposed budget size, following the report of the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Mr Uduak Odudoh.

Our correspondent recalls that Gov. Udom Emmanuel had on Nov. 7 proposed a total budget outlay of N697.005 billion for the 2023 financial year before the House of Assembly for consideration.

The House had earlier dissolved into the Committee of Supply through a motion moved by the House Leader, Mr Udo Kierian – PDP member representing Oruk Anam and seconded by Mr Aniefiok Akpan – PDP member representing Etinan state constituency to consider the 2023 appropriation.

The 2023 Budget is christened “Budget of Completion” as against 2022 christened, “Budget of re-defining Standards.”

Earlier, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Mr Uduak Odudoh (PDP) said in pursuant to Section 14 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the relevant provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2004, he laid before the House estimates of revenue and expenditure of Akwa Ibom State for 2023 for consideration

He said the committee adopted a participatory approach in its legislative budgetary process where MDAs, Non-Governmental Organisations and other relevant publics were invited to attend a Public Hearing on the budget.

After a Clause-by-Clause deliberation at the Committee of Supply, members unanimously accepted the report and the Appropriation Bill was subsequently passed into Law.

As part of the recommendations, the House urged the State Government to ensure the prompt and commensurate release of funds to MDAs for the execution of projects and programmes.

The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Aniekan Bassey, in his remarks, commended the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation for the quick passage of the budget.

The speaker said the Assembly would continue to build a robust and impactful relationship with other arms of government to foster development and growth in the state. 

He commended Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that appeared before the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation during budget defence, adding that the overall objective was to give priority to areas of immediate importance to Akwa Ibom people.

The speaker directed the Clerk of the House, Mrs Mandu Umoren, to send the clean copy of the bill to Gov Udom Emmanuel for assent. 

Meanwhile, the House adjourned its plenary to reconvene on Jan. 5, 2023.