NAN-H-87
Speaker
Calabar, Jan. 11, 2016 (NAN) Mr John Lebo, the Speaker of Cross River House of Assembly, has described non deduction and remittance of the state’s share into the reserved funds account in 2016 as a disservice to the state.
Lebo stated this on Wednesday in Calabar when the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Asuquo Ekpeyong appeared before House Committee on Finance and Appropriation to defend the Ministry’s 2017 Budget proposals.
According to him, if deductions from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are minimal such money can be collated and paid in to the state’s reserve account at the end of the year.
He stressed the need for the state to keep the production integrity of making funds available for the reserve account.
Lebo pointed out that there was no month in 2016 that the state paid salaries on zero allocation either to state or local government workers.
He said that house was willing to pass a resolution to source money to fund the reserve account.
“Rather than having as little as N400 million remitted in a whole year from local Government alone, ‘’ he said.
He said that reserve funds were necessary for the state government to fall back on in order to accomplish its laudable projects for the benefit of the people.
The speaker further frowned at the attitude of some MDAs that engaged in collecting revenue when revenue collection was not part of their statutory responsibility.
He called on the ministry to coordinate all revenue generating MDAs to meet with members of the assembly to find a way of strengthening and streamlining their operations for effective revenue collection.
Mr Eteng William, the Chairman, Finance and Appropriation Committee commended the speaker on his concerns on revenue generation and the state’s reserve fund.
Williams said that the assembly would not hesitate to withdraw the confirmation of any head of MDA that failed to appear before the Finance and Appropriation Committee to defend its budget proposals.
“Every MDA must submit relevant documents that will facilitate the budget process toward its passage into law,‘’ he said. (NAN)
BEN/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf