Peter Bassey|7 October 2016
The Cross River State House of Assembly, led by Rt. Hon. John Gual Lebo has once again set the pace for excellence by taking a due legislative process in amending the Cross River State 2016 Appropriation Bill, commonly referred to as "BUDGET".
The motion which was filled in on Tuesday, 27th September 2016 at the floor of the House, by the House Leader Rt. Hon. Moses Ushie, member representing Obanliku, laid a comprehensive argument while the budget should be reversed downwards.
Speaking also in favour of the motion, the member representing Calabar South 1, Rt. Hon. Okon Ephraim commended the executive arm of government for revisiting the budget, adding that it was important for its actualization by September ending, since the 2017 budget was supposed to be laid before the House by October 2016.
Rt. Hon. Jones Williams, the member representing Yakurr 2 state constituency and Chairman House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, who speak strongly in favour of the motions says, most of the indices used in projecting the 2016 budget e.g the Internally Generated Revenue IGR, Federal Allocation etc has dropped drastically due to the economic recession, hence posing a great challenge to its actualization. He commend the governor for his foresight in respect to reviewing the appropriation bill.
The bill was read the second time and was committed to House Committee on Finance and appropriation for public hearing from MDGs affected by the review. The committee is to report back to the house in 14 days time.
Peter Bassey
Writes from Calabar
peterenyievi@gmail.com
