Enugu Assembly approves N200m virement for State, LG Auditor-General offices

The Enugu State House of Assembly Friday approved the virement of N200 million for the offices of the State Auditor-General and Auditor-General for Local Government.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the house also passed the 2021 State Audit Amendment Bill at an emergency plenary session.

The Leader of the House, Mr Ikechukwu Ezeugwu, said the approval of the virement became necessary to provide funding for the two newly created offices, which were not envisaged during the 2021 appropriation bill.

Ezeugwu said the funding would include capital and recurrent expenditures, adding that the N200 million would be provided by the office of the governor.

According to him, the virement would give the offices the needed independence to effectively discharge their statutory responsibilities.

Also contributing, the member representing Awgu south constituency, Mr Johnson Chukwuobasi, said the new offices would be redundant without funding.

The Speaker, Chief Edward Ubosi, said the fund was meant to perfect the Audit Amendment Bill passed by the assembly.

Ubosi said it would be an irony to create the offices without approving funds that would make them functional.

He said such a development would amount to building something on nothing.

In another development, Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has forwarded a list of nominees for the State Civil Service Commission (SCSC) and Local Government Service Commission (LGSC) to the house for confirmation.

The nominees for the SCSC included Mrs Eucharia Offiah (Chairman), Mr Nathaniel Anike, Mrs Chinenye Odike and Mrs Stella Ekweremadu (members).

Also nominated for the LGSC were Prof. Ossy Okanya (Chairman), Mr Frederick Ugwu, Mrs Florence Igboji, Mr Peter Nnaji and Mr Eugene Odoh (members).

The Speaker directed the nominees to submit 25 copies of their Curriculum Vitae on or before Monday, August 2 to the house. (NAN)