The Deputy Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu has berated a former Commissioner of finance in Abia State, Obinna Oriaku over what he described as unfounded allegations against the members of the 7th Abia House of Assembly by the former Finance Commissioner.
In a telephone chat with Flo Fm; an Umuahia based radio station, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu who is the spokesperson of the State House of Assembly described the former Commissioner as a frustrated political jobber following his allegation that the state assembly receives 140million as overhead expenditure.
The former Commissioner had accused members of the House of receiving special money to pass the annual budget and also alleged that there are cabals in the State House of Assembly that receive an average of 9 to 10 million naira monthly.
Responding to the allegations, the Deputy Speaker had this to say, “that the Abia House of Assembly receives 140 million is a lie from the pit of hell and from a frustrated political jobber. We do not receive such an amount. My brother, there is freedom of information act and as such, if you want to know the exact amount that Abia House of Assembly receives as overhead expenditure you can apply to the account department and you will be furnished with every necessary information.
On the issue of members of the house receiving special money to pass the annual budget into law, the Deputy Speaker noted that passage of appropriation bills into Law is one of the statutory functions of the legislative arm and as such, members of Abia State House of Assembly do not receive any money to perform their duties.
Speaking on the allegation of cabals receiving certain amounts of money in the house, Rt. Hon. Uchendu responded thus,
“For the records, there is no cabal in the 7th Abia House of Assembly. The leadership of the House under Rt. Hon. Engr. Chinedum Enyinnaya Orji is a very transparent one and members across all political parties can attest to this fact. And to answer your question, there is no cabal in the House and I can confirm to you that nobody is receiving such an amount, whether daily, monthly or yearly”.
And lastly on the allegation of bulk of the state’s IGR going into private pockets, the Deputy Speaker confirmed that the House had carried out an oversight function on revenue generating agencies, with their action aimed at assisting the executive in finding a lasting solution for prompt payment of salaries. He stated that the recommendations of the house were duly communicated to the executive and that it included the cancellation of contract of a certain financial consulting firm that was implicated in the mismanagement of funds and non-remittance of tax.
The Deputy Speaker frowned at the antics of former political office holders in relaunching themselves into the political limelight. According to him, “these people would wake up any day to put up several unfounded and malicious articles just to have the attention of those in government”.
He stated that the action of the former Commissioner is aimed at pitching the law makers against their constituents and wondered why some of these `Political Jobbers’ always fail to point out the lies they serve the unsuspecting general public while they were in active service.
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He promised that the house will respond further on these allegations when it resumes plenary later in the month.
