CRS 2021 PROPOSED REVISED BUDGET SCALES SECOND READING

By Itam Offor

The State 2021 proposed Revised Budget has passed through second reading on the floor of the House of Assembly.

The said proposal seeks to review the Budget downwards from N281,990,230 to N237,244,815,286 showing a variance of N44,746,164,944 representing 15.86%.

The House resolved to review the Budget after the Leader, Rt Hon. Peter Odey (Ogoja) presented a report requesting the downward review to reflect the State's actual budget peformance and improve it's sustainability index as well as alleviate social tension and problems particularly hunger and poverty.

According to Odey, the 2021 Appropiation Recurrent Revenue of N90, 690,851,598 is maintained adding that the expected revenue from Statutory Allocation, VAT, Internationally Generated revenue (IGR) remain same.

The proposed revised budget shows that Personel Cost has been increased from N47.883 billion to N50,028 billion, Grants and subsidies from N3.448 billion to N6.004 billion, while over head costs have been slashed from N16.460 billion to N15.532 billion.

Similarly, Social Benefits is proposed at N2.359 billion as against the approved provision of N4 million.

The report also indicates that Capital Expenditure earlier approved at N204,199,154,406 is revised to N151,319,287,770 while expected Receipt for Capital Development which was approved at N185,718,131,319 has been reduced to N140,971,966,375.

In their separates contributions Members noted that the essence of the review was to reflex the current economic realities occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic and other economic challenges adding that the earlier approved budget was not sustainable under the present economic situation.

Since the Standing Committees in the House had earlier been disolved, the Speaker, Rt Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams set up a special Appropiation Committee headed by Hon. Sunday Achunekang (Obanliku) to carry out further Legislative functions and report back within one week.

Other Members of the Committee are Hon. Elvert Ayambem (Ikom II), Rt. Hon. Hilary Bisong (Boki II), Hon. Francis Bassey Asuquo (Odukpani), and Hon. Cynthia Nkasi (Yala II).

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