Imo Assembly passes N65bn supplementary budget to fight insecurity

The Imo House of Assembly on Tuesday passed a supplementary budget of N65bn for the year 2022.

The passage of the budget followed a bill presented by the Majority Leader of the House, Mr Kanayo Onyemaechi (APC Owerri West) at the plenary session.

Onyemaechi said the supplementary budget was necessary to help fight the rising insecurity in the state and to boost infrastructural development.

Supporting the bill, Mr Chigozie Nwaneri (APC Oru East) said there was a need to arrest the security situation in the state, particularly in Orlu zone.

Nwaneri stressed that the state government needed every help it could get to tackle the issue satisfactorily.

Also speaking, the Njaba representative, Mrs Uju Onwudiwe, (APC)  noted that her constituency had been worst hit by the security crisis in the state.

Onwudiwe, however, commended the State Government in its efforts toward ending the security crisis in the state and called for the bill to be approved.

The bill which was read for the first and second time was also considered at the committee of the whole house and passed.

The Speaker,  Mr Kennedy Ibeh (APC Obowo ) directed the Clerk, Mrs Chinelo Emeghara, to ensure the bill is sent to the governor for assent.

Recall the governor, had earlier signed a budget of N381.4 billion for the year 2022.

A bill for the establishment of the Imo State Data Centre was also granted accelerated passage in addition to a bill for a law to amend the Imo Lands Administration and Geographic Information Service establishment law.

Both laws were also sent to the governor for assent following their passage.

The Speaker during the plenary session also called for a minute of silence in honour of Mr Okechukwu Okoye, the legislator who was abducted and killed in Anambra state.

While praying for the repose of his soul, Ibe also prayed against a repeat of the gory incident and for an end to insecurity in the country.

Okoye was the representative of Aguata state constituency at the Anambra House of Assembly.