Abia lawmakers pass 2012 budget, invite suspended officials

ABIA State House of Assembly has passed the 2012 Appropriation Bill into law, giving it retrogressive effect from January 1, 2012.The House also announced the names of commissioners and local council transition chairmen earlier suspended from office and invited them to appear before it for 're-screening and re-affirmation'.The passed bill increased the executive's budget estimate of N122,390,433,920 to N129,959,325,170.According to the Assembly, the 2012 budget, christened: 'Budget of Transformation', is aimed at stimulating economic growth of the state.It stated that the vision of the budget encapsulated an integration of multi-sectoral grassroots development predicated on enhancing the sustainable socio-economic wellbeing of the people.The approved budget has a recurrent expenditure outlay of N58,838,997,070 and N71,120,328,100 capital expenditure.The suspended cum recalled commissioners are Dr. Okechukwu Ogah, Health; Emma Nwabuko, Local Council/Chieftaincy Affairs; Kingsley Mgbeahuru, Works; Solomon Adaelu, Poverty Alleviation; Ike Onyenweaku, Agriculture; Don Ubani, Information; Akujobi Nkoro, Petroleum; Mrs. Joy Alozie, Women Affairs; Charles Ogbonnaya, Deputy Chief of Staff; Ukpai Agwu Ukpai, Special Adviser on Special Duties; and Captain Agwu Udensi (rtd), Security Adviser.Two new nominees for commissionership and councils transition chairmanship were also invited for screening by the House.They are Mr. Eze Chikannayo who is a serving Adviser on Information and Mazi Donatus Okorie, the current Chief of Staff to the governor.The two transition chairmen-nominees are Mr. Emeka Nwaogu - the serving Urban Renewal Commissioner forAba-South Council; and Goodluck Ahamefule, Aba-North.The recalled transition chairmen invited for re-screening are Frank Ibe, Umuahia-North; Ikeokwu Nwankwo, Ukwa-West; Mrs. Nnenna Obewu Onwuka, Ohafia; Onyekachi Nwaulu, Obingwa; Dr. Nath Iheanacho, Umuahia-South; and Ikerionwu Okaima, Bende.Others are Munachim Alozie, Ugwunagbo; Michael Ekpe, Ikwuano; Rowland Alozie, Isiala-Ngwa South; Okafor Okoreafia, Arochukwu; Armstrong Okoronkwu, Isiala-Ngwa North; Lewis Obianyi, Ukwa-East; Enyinnaya Nwosu, Isuikwuato; and Innocent Anucha Osisioma, Ngwa.In another development, the House constituted an ad-hoc committee headed by Martins Azubuike and charged it with investigating undisclosed 'activities' of the suspended Umunneochi Local Council Chairman, Dan Okoli, within one week.
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