Ebonyi State governor, David Umahi, on Tuesday signed into law the 2021 appropriation bill, tagged “Budget of Stabilisation and Consolidation in a Recession”.
The state governor had on December 15, 2020, presented the N122.85 billion appropriation bill to the State House of Assembly for the 2021 fiscal year.
The governor, while assenting the bill at the new exco chambers, thanked the state Assembly for the speedy passage of the budget.
“Thank you for this budget. People may not know why our budget is passed within this shortest period. We engage the House off-camera during our budget preparation. Moreover, the House is always briefed about our income and expenditures,” Umahi said.
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“So, it is not difficult for them to ascertain what we are doing on every element of the budget. We are happy that the three arms of government know where we are and where we are going and the challenges of Ebonyi State,” he said.
Umahi further lauded the lawmakers for their patriotism and peaceful disposition, noting that the Ebonyi State House of Assembly was the most peaceful in Nigeria.
He also commended the lawmakers for not allowing themselves to be used to destabilise the state and assured them they would benefit from their patriotism.
“This House remains the most peaceful House of Assembly in Nigeria. Let me, with all sense of humility and gratitude to God, thank our State House of Assembly. We may not know the importance of a peaceful House of Assembly.
“We may not know the dangers of making an opening for people to destabilize the House and by extension, the state. That’s why I commend the majority of you who have stood your ground that the pivot of our progress and development is hinged on the House of Assembly.
“We are grateful, and we will support you to every length. Just know that what you are doing is not a favour to the governor. Most of you are younger than I am. This standard you have set through your patriotism, you will benefit from it,” he said.
The governor reiterated that the ongoing airport project will be ready for use in 2021, saying flight must land in the Ebonyi International Airport in 2021.
The speaker of the State Assembly, Francis Nwifuru, said the appropriation bill passed all the processes of legislative proceedings before its passage into law and assured that the House will continue to give accelerated attention to anything brought by the governor for the interest of the people.
