Defence for the 2019 State budget has commenced at the House of Assembly complex in Awka with Ministries, Departments and Agencies appearing before the various House committees.

Declaring it open, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Chief Obinna Emenaka, maintained that the timely commencement of the budget defence was in fulfillment of the promise by the lawmakers to pass the budget before the Christmas break. Chief Emenaka enjoined the Ministries to arrange their materials before coming for the defence.

Other House members expressed gratitude on the level of preparedness and experience exhibited by various Ministries that appeared before them.

Speaking on behalf of the Heads of the Ministries that have defended theirs, the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr C-Don Adinuba, commended the lawmakers for painstakingly going through the documents of various Ministries, assuring that the information
organs of the State, will continue to promote peace and unity of Ndi Anambra through their contents.

Among the Ministries that have defended their budget included Housing, Works, Economic Planning as well as Information and Public Enlightenment.

Meanwhile, Governor Willie Obiano has been commended for giving physical infrastructure a lion share of twenty-two point four billion naira in the budget estimate of over one hundred and fifty-seven billion naira proposed for the services of the State government in the 2019 fiscal year.

Speaking to the ABS shortly after the Governor presented the budget to the State Lawmakers, an APGA Chieftain at Nise in Awka South Local Government Area, Chief Boniface Egbutu maintained that giving physical infrastructure which includes road construction and maintenance a lion share in next year’s budget is a clear indication that Governor Obiano is committed to opening up various communities across the State through good road network.

Chief Egbutu while describing the relationship between the executive arm of government and the legislature as very cordial, commended the State House of Assembly for its promise to give the 2019 appropriation bill accelerated hearing, for prompt passage to enable the Governor continue giving the citizenry democracy dividends.