House proceedings 1/2/11

HOUSE REPORT DATED 1/2/2011

The house sitting started with an opening prayer by the speaker at 10am in the morning. The votes and proceedings for the house sitting dated 25/1/2011 were approved.

The Enugu State 2011 appropriation Bill has scaled its second reading.

The speaker instructed the various committees to conclude their budget defence with the various parastatals and ministries in which they are overseeing before Friday 4^th February 2011 with a view to getting it passed by Tuesday 8^th February 2011.

Hon Abel Chukwu regarded the budget as the most realistic budget so far. According to him, the different between 2010 budget and 2011 continuation budget is 2.8% decrease showing that it was not inflated.

Hon. Anichukwu John supported the bill. He urged the committee for Agricultural Development to make sure that the budget appropriation for agriculture is implemented to the letters. If not, he continued, the money spent on our Youths sent to Songhai to learn mechanized Agriculture will be a waste. These young people need seed money to speed up agricultural development. He also hoped that the appropriation for Education should be able to take care of all the necessary things such that what was been experienced by ESUT for the last 6 months will not occur again. He regretted that the amount of money gotten from taxes in the state is not known and as such he wonders how Government can realize such amount of money quoted in the bill can be realized. He also lamented that Private individuals has for a long time dogged paying taxes leaving it for only public servants.

Therefore, encouraged that a formidable approach be used if government would not loose more money.

ANNOUNCEMENT: so many standing committees will have their budget defence with the different ministries they are overseeing on Wednesday and Thursday.

Jonny Obidimma moved for adjournment of the house sitting to Tuesday, 8/2/2011. Nze Michael Onyeze seconded.

The house sitting ended by 11:10 am. 

HOUSE REPORT DATED 25/1/2011

By Isaiah – A-CODE

The  Enugu State House of Assembly  resumed formally with a Debate on the 2011 Budget. The Leader of the house ,Hon. Obidimma Jonny led  in the Debate as he moved  the  motion  for the  debate appropriation to go precisely for second reading.    

Hon .Obidimma Jonny   reviewed  the 2010 budget,  commending the government  he described the budget as money well spent.  The 2011 appropriation bill happens to be the continuation of 2010.

Also raised in the House is the transformation going on in the agricultural sector in the State , which its take off is dependent on the bill.  100 graduates were trained in the area of   agric engineering in Sungai   in Indonesia. This training expenses has  been provided for in the appropriation bill under discussion.

He called on his colleagues for immediate passage of bill. The topic was adjourned to Tuesday ,1st  February ,2011.

In the house , Hon.  Mrs. Elizabeth Ezugu was today recalled to resume the house duty following her initial suspension in the house. It should be also recalled that Hon Mrs. Elizabeth Ezugu, the representative of the Igbo Eze South was in November 2010 suspended for misrepresentation of the house  in her duty  as the Chairman house committee on poverty reduction. So, she thanked the house for granting her the readmitting her.