By Anastasia Agunwa/Chizoba Okeke/Gloria Abugu
The Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly, Mr. Uche Okafor has lauded Gov. Charles Soludo for the tremendous achievements recorded in human and infrastructural developments in the state barely eight months in office.
The Speaker made the commendation during the Presentation of the draft 2023 budget entitled: “Budget of Acceleration” by Gov. Soludo to the State Legislature at the plenary on November 10.
According to Okafor, you have renewed people’s confidence in governance as your administration has introduced what I call ‘Government of Inclusiveness’ as evident in the composition of the members of your Executive Council and other political appointments which are all encompassing
He noted that the governor had within eight months in office flagged off over two hundred kilometers of roads for construction across the state, employed a lot of teachers, improved the security architecture and environmental sanitation in the state amongst others.
Okafor equally, acknowledged the quick intervention of the State Government in the natural flood disaster that hit the state by providing funds and other materials for the rehabilitation of the flood displaced persons through the Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
The Speaker, therefore, assured the governor that the House would give the budget expeditious consideration and passage.
“We are duty-bound to painstakingly look at the budget and come up with a legal framework that will satisfy the intent of the government and the development expectations of Ndi Anambra”, he stressed.
Okafor, however, called on various ministries and other government organs to be ready for the budget bilateral discussions as the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation and other Committees of the House were inclined to the exercise.
The Speaker urged Ndi Anambra to continue to pray for the peace and development of the state and give maximum support to Gov. Soludo.
In his vote of thanks, the Chairman House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Mr. Obinna Emeneka thanked the governor for his wonderful presentation of 2023 budget estimates.
He described the budget as one with the sound and future development of the state.
Emeneka, therefore, urged the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government to be very much prepared for the bilateral discussions that would commence soon.
Meanwhile, a Bill for a Law to provide for the sum of Two hundred and fifty-eight billion, nine hundred and seventy million, one hundred and seventy-five thousand, nine hundred and five naira for the services of the Government of Anambra State of Nigeria for the year ending Thirty-First December, 2023 and for connected purposes has passed through the first and second readings.
The Speaker had put up voice votes for the adoption of the two readings while the lawmakers unanimously adopted them through voice votes.
Present at the plenary are the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe; the Obi of Awka, Igwe Gibson Nwosu and monarchs from some other communities.
Others include the Anambra State Association of Town Unions (ASATU), Members of the State Executive Council, Special Assistants (SAs) to the governor and other influential Ndi Anambra. (MOI)
