Abia Assembly Passes Law For N22bn Virement In 2023 Appropriation

Abia State House of Assembly has passed the state 2023 Appropriation Amendment Law, HAB 3, to approve the virement N22,263,269,900 in the 2023 Appropriation Law.

The passage followed the consideration of a letter by Governor Alex Otti which was presented by the deputy speaker of the House, Austin Mmeregini, who presided over the sitting.

Motion for the amendment was moved during plenary by the majority leader of the House and member representing Arochukwu Constituency, Uchenna Okoro.

“This bill seeks to vire money from the expenditure subheads where they are not properly captured to areas where they will be needed without actually increasing the budget,” he said.

He said with the merging of some ministries by the present administration, it is proper to vire funds from one area to another where they are needed to ensure their optimal utilisation.

“I urge my honourable colleagues to support this bill to enable the administration to continue to deliver democracy dividends to the people of the state.”

Before ruling on the motion, Nmereghini, who represents Umuahia East constituency, had put the motion to vote and it was unanimously accepted by the lawmakers.

He said: “Abia State of Nigeria 2023 Appropriation Amendment Law shall be deemed to have come into force on the 1st of August 2023. Honorable members HAB 3 has been passed into law.”