Fides Media Living the Faith
…Begin Assessment of 2021 Budget Implementation
By Abuchi Onwumelu
The Chairman, Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Public Accounts, Hon Somtochukwu Udeze, has asked all the government Ministries coming for the verification of their 2020 audited accounts to keep their records straight.
Sir Somtochukwu, who is the member representing Ogbaru II State Constituency, made the call when key officers of the Ministry of Works appeared before the committee for the verification of their audited 2020 financial transactions.
Fides reports that the lawmaker explained that the exercise was part of the cardinal responsibilities of the Anambra State House of Assembly aimed at encouraging accountability, transparency and due process in the management of public funds.
Hon. Somtochukwu commended the Ministry for ensuring that quality jobs were executed at the Anambra State International Cargo and Passenger Airport at Umueri in Anambra East Local Government Area International Conference Centre Awka, as well as maintenance of roads within the Awka capital.
For his part, the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Marcel Ifejiofor, gave an assurance that every ongoing road project would be completed before the end of the Obiano administration, as Governor Obiano was committed to finishing strong.
Similarly, the Managing Director, Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, Venerable Amaechi Okwuosa, and key officers of the Agency, appeared before the committee and defended their audited account for the year under review.
Venerable Okwuosa explained that in 2020, the agency desilted drainages in the area to keep the territory free from flooding, adding that the agency was committed to making Awka Capital Territory a world class city.
In line with its oversight responsibilities, the Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation had commenced the assessment of ministries’ performance with regard to the 2021 budget implementation.
The exercise, holding at the state Assembly, was a prerequisite for the presentation of the 2022 Appropriation Bill that was ongoing.
Speaking during their meeting with key officers in the Ministry of Health, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Chief Obinna Emeneka, explained that the exercise provided an avenue for them to cross-match the projects executed by government ministries with the funds appropriated to them and devise more ways to generate revenue for the state government in 2022 Appropriation Bill.
The committee looked into how the ministry accessed funds budgeted for it in the 2021 budget, revenue it generated, projects it executed and its recruitments within the year under review.
Chief Emeneka commended them for documenting their activities very well.
For his part, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Vincent Okpala, who gave an account of how the ministry accessed its budgeted funds this year, also informed the committee that they generated revenue for the state through registration of hospitals and maternities, registration and renewal of traditional medicines, sale of common entrance forms, renewal of contracts, tuition fees for College of Health Technology Obosi, among others.