BEING REMARKS BY THE SPEAKER OF THE AKWA IBOM STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, RT. HON. ANIEKAN BASSEY, ON THE OCCASION OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE 2023 APPROPRIATION BILL BY HIS EXCELLENCY, MR. UDOM EMMANUEL, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF AKWA IBOM STATE ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2022
Your Excellency, Honourable Members and distinguished guests, permit me to sincerely and formally welcome you to the Akwa lbom State House of Assembly for the presentation of the 2023 Appropriation Bill. Our gathering here today is in line with Section 121 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which mandates the Governor to present the State’s Budget to the State House Assembly for consideration and approval.
Your Excellency, before I continue, let me use this medium to congratulate you for successfully hosting the 35th Anniversary celebration of our dear State where a lot of projects were commissioned with global commendations trailing them. I also congratulate you on your appointment as the Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party’s Presidential Campaign Council. The signature hosting of the Presidential Campaign flag-off in Uyo is still stirring positive ripples in our nation’s political environment. Truly, good things are coming out of Akwa lbom State.
Your Excellency, Honourable Members and distinguished guests, I wish to also note with pride and admiration the harmonious and result-oriented partnership between the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary arms of government in Akwa Ibom State. Indeed, this result-oriented partnership has translated into the all-round growth and development of the State.
Today’s event is very symbolic and of great significance to me as it marks the last Appropriation Bill presentation that I will witness as a Member and as the Speaker of this Assembly as well as His Excellency’s last Budget presentation appearance before the House. I am grateful to God Almighty for giving me and my reliable colleagues the ability to serve our people as their representatives. I do not take this privilege for granted.
For seven years, I have sat in this hallowed Chambers listening to the well-thought out submissions made by His Excellency during the presentation of previous Appropriation Bills. For seven years, I have been involved in oversight activities in respect of Budget implementation. Armed with the feedbacks as regards the performance of previous Budgets, I can boldly say that Akwa Ibom State has fared well in the areas of Budget conception and implementation.
So, without mincing word, I will say that our State’s budgeting process has substantially complied with the standard of International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS), which is aimed at ensuring efficient internal control and result-based financial management in the public sector.
These commendable feats are evident in the high level of transparency, which has been the hallmark of this administration. It is heartwarming to this Honourable House that the present administration has on numerous occasions displayed prudence and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of the State. This managerial skill has helped to fast-track good governance for the benefit of our people.
The formulation and implementation of sound and pragmatic economic policies have added value to the life of the fisherman in Mbo, the coconut farmer in Mkpat Enin, the raffia business merchant in Ikot Ekpene, the trader in Urua Mkpafi, the worker in Ibom Air, amongst others. The infrastructural renaissance, human capacity development and security of lives and property we are experiencing today is a clear pointer to the fact that governance means business.
The Seventh Assembly is mindful of the fact that the previous year’s budget performance was bedeviled by myriads of challenges ranging from decline in financial earnings from the Federation’s Account to insecurity and oil theft amongst other negative trends. However, we are not deterred by these challenges, as we see them as diamonds in the rough that require patience and ingenuity to make glitter.
It is our hope that the 2023 Appropriation Bill (the Budget of Completion) will consolidate on the recorded achievements of previous financial years and enable the Governor to perfect his Completion Agenda. As the People’s Assembly, we promise to be thorough and expeditious in our consideration of this Budget for the prosperity of Akwa Ibom people.
To this extent, I want to urge all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government to cooperate with the House of Assembly during the Budget Defense sessions so as to make the Budget’s consideration and passage seamless.
This Assembly will beam its searchlight on all government institutions by way of oversight in a bid to ensure full compliance with the Appropriation Law and other extant laws and regulations.
We pledge our avowed commitment to the Akwa Ibom project and look forward to the economic prosperity of our State. Thank you and God bless.
