From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has charged revenue generating agencies of the State to double their efforts to increase the revenues accruable to government and ensure that revenue leaks were effectively plugged.
Ikpeazu gave the charge at the Governor’s Lodge, Aba on Saturday December 31, 2022, while signing into law, the state’s 2023 Appropriation Bill of N160, 517, 504, 300.00.
Before passing the Appropriation bill, the House of Assembly increased it by N3 billion above the initial amount of N157, 517, 300.
At the 2023 budget signing ceremony witnessed by Commissioner for Finance, Dr Aham Ukoh, and the Permanent Secretary/Clerk of the House of Assembly, Sir JohnPedro Irokansi, the Governor assured that the budget would be faithfully implemented in order sustain the gains made by his administration and with the understanding that a new administration would be in charge from May 29, this year.
He therefore charged revenue generating agencies of the State Government to double their efforts to increase the revenues accruable to government and ensure that revenue leaks were effectively plugged to ensure sufficiency of funds for the budget implementation.
The Governor expressed his appreciation to the Speaker and members of the State legislature for expediting action on the Bill.
He acknowledged that lawmakers even had to work during the Christmas holidays to ensure that the budget cycle of January – December was sustained in line with global best practices.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Onyebuchi Ememanka, disclosed that just before the budget signing ceremony, the Commissioner for Finance, Dr Aham Ukoh, formally presented to the Governor, the World Bank award for excellence to the state for “Very Good” performance in Financial Transparency And Accountability Under The State’s Fiscal Accountability, Transparency And Sustainability (Sftas) Project.
According to Ememanka, Ikpeazu thanked the World Bank for the recognition and assured that his administration would be relentless in the pursuit of the virtues of fiscal responsibility, accountability and transparency.
The CPS said that the Governor also thanked the Ministry of Finance and the entire state workforce for their support.