The Abia State House of Assembly has committed the 2024 Appropriation Bill recently presented to it by the Governor, Dr Alex Otti to its joint committee on Budget and Appropriation for further legislative actions.
The Speaker, Rt.Hon Emmanuel Emeruwa who announced the decision on the floor of the House shortly after receiving the budget breakdown from the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Mike Akpara said the committee is expected to interact with the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies on their budgetory provisions and revert to the House.
He described the budget as gigantic and aggressive assuring that the House will do all that is expected of them to ensure that the state does not only pull through but is brought to positive limelight.
Presenting the breakdown of the 2024 Abia State draft estimate to the House, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Mike Akpara noted that the 2024 budget estimates with a total projected outlay of five hundred and sixty – seven billion, two hundred and fourty million, ninety – five thousand and nine hundred and seventy two Naira has an increase of over 71% from that of last year and Capital expenditure standing at 82% of the total budget expenditure.
The Finance Commissioner said the budget was linked to the core social and economic objectives of the present administration in the state, explained that under the fiscal year, any borrowing by the state government will not be to feed but to invest and appreciated the state lawmakers for their collaboration.
The session which was interactive was attended by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu and other top government functionaries as the House later adjourned its plenary to reconvene on Tuesday next week.
