State lawmakers urge Gov Udom to reduce spendings

The Akwa Ibom House Committee on Appropriation and Finance has advised the state government to reduce the cost of governance in the 2017 financial year.

The advice is contained in the 2017 Appropriation Estimate Report of the committee submitted at plenary on Tuesday.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr Usoro Akpanusoh, while submitting the report, called for the reduction of the recurrent expenditure and the savings ploughed back to finance capital programmes.

The committee also resolved that Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) should be alive to their responsibilities regarding Internally Generated Revenue, in view of the present economic difficulties.

The committee recommended that sources of revenue for the 2017 budget should not be limited to revenue from oil alone.

According to the report, annual state budget should be made within the context of the state Economic Development Strategy and Medium Term Expenditure Framework.

Mr Ime Okon (PDP), representing Ibiono Ibom state constituency, moved the motion and seconded by Mr Mark Esset (PDP) representing Nsit Atai State Constituency.

The Speaker, Mr Onofiok Luke, referred the report to the Committee on Rules, Business, Ethics and Privileges to reschedule for another legislative day.

Also at plenary, a motion on the need to curb the menace of bread production and sales in Akwa Ibom was asked to be withdrawn due to perceived inadequacies in context, prayers, statistics and focus.

The sponsor of the motion, Mr Mark Esset, could not convince the members that the motion was a matter of urgent public importance.

After careful deliberation on the motion which did not receive acceptance of the majority, the sponsor, Esset, moved a motion to withdraw the motion and was seconded by Mr Usoro Akpanusoh (PDP) Esit Eket/Ibeno.

The House adjourned plenary to reconvene on March 9.