Picmix of Rt. Hon. Williams and interior of CRSHA Chamber
Peter Bassey|17 October 2016
The Cross River State House of Assembly 17th October, 2016 at her Finance and Appropriation Committee level started the review of the revised 2016 appropriation bill (budget). The committee which was presided over by its chairman Rt. Hon. Jones Eteng Williams had in attendance some ministries who were invited to defend her budget.
Appearing before the committee was the Ministry of Solid Minerals led by a former member of the CRSHA Rt. Hon. George Abene. Defending the ministry's budget, Mr. Abene explained the discrepancy in his ministry's budget were provision for an additional sum accruing to 500 million Naira where made to carter for the zonal offices rentage as back log of debt owed the landlords for the past four years. He also sighted the cement plant in Akamkpa as basis for the additional sum, stating that his ministry will take care of site clearing, design, environmental impact assessment (EIA) etc.
Subsequently, the Hon. Commissioner for Agriculture, Prof. Anthony Eneji took his turn on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture. Addressing the Committee based on questions filed in by some committee members, the commissioner says he was optimistic that the rice city and the installation of rice processing plant will bring succor to the people of the state as well as create more job opportunities. Prof. Eneji begged the committee to include the CRS Banana Project which he said was conspicuously missing in the budget, stating that the project holds a lot of prospects for the state.
Responding on behalf of the committee, Rt. Hon. Williams stated that the committee will do her best to look at every detail in the budget, adding that the budget is to be reviewed downwards rather than upward.
Peter Bassey
Writes from Calabar
peterenyievi@gmail.com
