Abia State House of Assembly Plenary for Thursday, 30th December, 2021

Welcome to another Legislative Day in the 7th Abia State House of Assembly.

The Speaker, Rt Hon Engr Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji led Principal Officers into the hallowed chamber.

Hon Munachim Alozie, the Chief Whip of the House and Member representing Ugwanagbo State Constituency led the opening prayer.

The Abia State House of Assembly commenced plenary after the adoption of Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 22nd December, 2021.

PERSONAL EXPLANATION

Hon Kelechi Onuzuruike, Member representing Umuahia North State Constituency said he was particularly delighted because of the numerous visits of the Speaker to his constituency especially this yuletide season.

Hon Onuzuruike said he has the sole mandate of his people to thank him for his love and benevolence to his people.

Concluding, he urged the Speaker to continue to show immense love to his people.

Hon Abraham Oba, Member representing Aba Central State Constituency equally showered encomiums on the Speaker for coming to celebrate with him as he gave out his daughter in traditional marriage rites.

He also thanked his colleagues and the entire staff of Abia State House of Assembly for coming to celebrate with him.

NOTICE OF PRESENTATION OF BILLS.

H.A.B. 51: The Abia State Economic Planning Board Bill, 2021.

A Bill for a Law to provide for the Establishment of Abia State Economic Planning Board sponsored by Hon Barr Emeka Okoroafor.

Accordingly, after going through legislative processes and in a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Hon Solomon Akpulonu and seconded by Hon Emeka Okoroafor, Member representing Isuikwuato State Constituency, the Bill, H.A.B. 51 passed First Reading.

H.A.B. 52: The Abia State Freedom of Information Bill, 2021.

A Bill for a Law to provide for Freedom of Information in Abia State sponsored by Hon Emeka Okoroafor.

Accordingly, after going through legislative processes and in a motion moved by the Majority Leader and seconded by Hon Emeka Okoroafor, the Bill, H.A.B. 52, passed First Reading.

ORDER OF THE DAY

Presentation of the Report of the House Committee on Appropriation on H.A.B. 50: A Bill for a Law to make provision for the appropriation of the sum of One Hundred and Forty-Seven Billion, Seven Hundred and Eighty Seven Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty-One Thousand, Three Hundred Naira (N147,787,781,300.00) only for the services of Government of Abia State for the year ending 31st December, 2022.

Rt Hon Kennedy Njoku, Chairman House Committee on Appropriation presented the report.

In a motion moved by the Majority Leader and seconded by the Minority Leader, the House adopted the report of the Appropriation Committee as a working document of the House.

In another motion moved by the Majority Leader and seconded by the Minority Leader, the House amended the Order Paper for the House to dissolve into the Committee of the Whole for the consideration of the report

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

At the Committee of the Whole, the Members deliberated on the content of the report as presented by the Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation.

After this, the House reverted back to full plenary.

Reporting what transpired at the Committee of the Whole, the Speaker said the House did page by page consideration of the report and that the House passed all the recommendations presented by the Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation.

In a motion moved by the Majority Leader and seconded by the Minority Leader, the House amended the Order Paper to accommodate the Third Reading of H.A.B. 50.

After going through the necessary legislative processes, the Speaker said “this is the time to delete the word Bill and insert the word Law” into the Appropriation.

The Speaker therefore said the Law shall be cited as the Abia State of Nigeria Appropriation Law and shall come into effect from 1st January, 2022.

Subsequently, H.A.B. 50, Abia State of Nigeria Appropriation Law was passed into Law.

ADJOURNMENT

Hon Solomon Akpulonu, Majority Leader of the House, moved that plenary be adjourned to another Legislative Day.

The Minority Leader, Hon Chijioke Chukwu seconded the motion.

Plenary was therefore adjourned to Monday, 31st January, 2022

Courtesy: Media Unit, Office of the Rt Hon Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly.