The Legislative Arm of Aniocha North Local Government, Delta State has approved a total budget estimate of Five Billion, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Three Million, Two Hundred and Nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Seventy-Six Naira, Thirty-one Kobo (N5, 963,209,476.31), for the Local Government Council in the 2023 fiscal Year.
The approval was based on the passage into law of the 2023 Draft Estimate, presented to the House early this year by the Executive Chairman of the Local Government, Hon Kevin Okwechime.
The appropriation bill, which was subjected into stringent legislative scrutiny and processes, was passed into law by the Legislative Arm on Thursday, May 18, 2023 at plenary, presided by the Leader of the House, Hon. Okonkwor Nwike Paul.
The passage of the bill was sequel to a motion moved by the Majority Leader of the Legislative Arm, Hon Azonuche Ernest, Councillor, Ward 7, Idumuje-Unor. It was seconded by the House Chief Whip, Hon. Hillary Onyeje Okafor, Councillor Ward 1, Obior.
The motion was unanimously adopted by the Councillors.
Earlier, the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, had submitted their report on the Budget Estimate, through the House Committee Chairman, Hon. Jude Chiedu Nwaghodi, represented by the Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Emmanuel Ofili Ikenwa.
The Committee stated in their report, jointly endorsed by the Committee Chairman, Hon Jude Chiedu Nwaghodi and the Committee Clerk, Pastor Michael Monye, that all the items were scrutinized in detail to ensure probity.
“The Committee having found the budget and appropriation to be in order, therefore envisage that it will impact positively on the lives of our people in Aniocha North Local Government area.
“We therefore, present the sum of Five Billion, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Three Million, Two Hundred and Nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Seventy-Six Naira, Thirty-one Kobo (N5,949,209,476.31), as recurrent and capital expenditure as the budget and appropriation to this Honourable House, for passage into law,” the committee had stated in the report.
The report was accepted and adopted as a working document whereby the House, through a motion, dissolved into committee of the whole, Chaired by the Leader, Hon. Okonkwor Nwike Paul, where the appropriation bill was further subjected to strict legislative scrutiny and was passed into law at the resumption of plenary.
The budget size of Five Billion, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Three Million, Two Hundred and Nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Seventy-Six Naira, Thirty-one Kobo (N5,963,209,476.31) comprised the sum of Three Billion, Two Hundred and One Million, Two Hundred and Nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Seventy-Six Naira, Thirty-one Kobo (N3,201,209,476.31), as recurrent expenditure and Two Billion, Seven Hundred and Sixty-Two Million Naira (2, 762, 000,000.00), as capital expenditure.
The Clerk of the Legislative Arm was directed by the House to communicate the passage of the appropriation bill into law, to the Executive Chairman of the Local Government, Hon. Kevin Okwechime.
