Governor Emeka Ihedioha CON, has signed the N197.6 Billion 2020 Appropriation Bill into Law.

This is as the governor also performed the signing of five more bills into law.

The short ceremony was held at the Expanded Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Owerri, Friday .

In his brief remarks shortly after signing the bills, the governor said the 2020 appropriation bill was professionally and painstakingly prepared.

“The 2020 appropriation bill is the flagship of the bills I have signed into Law today. This appropriation bill was professionally and painstakingly prepared. Having signed up to the Open Government Partnership, we had a few pre-requisites to follow. For instance, the process was participatory and so involved constituents and civil society, even before we presented it to the Assembly. It was also transparent, as we have made the documents available to the public from the onset”.

While expressing delight that the Appropriation Bill was signed before the start of the traditional budget year in January 2020, he noted that it is no mean feat, considering that the 2019 Appropriation Bill was signed into Law at the end of May of that 2019, hours before he was sworn into office as governor.

“By this, the fiscal year may now commence as envisaged on the 1st of January, 2020”, he stated.

“I am not oblivious of the fact that this is in the middle of our Christmas festivities and so a social sacrifice for some. But suffice it to say that this is the spirit of the new Imo.

“As a parliamentarian, I see today as the faithful culmination of any legislative process. Accent is an action that seals the success of the process and procedure determined by the constitution”

The governor was full of commendation for the 9th Assembly for what he described as “diligent and passionate attention to the legislative needs of the people”.

“The 9th Assembly, under the able leadership of Rt. Hon. Chiji Collins has lived up to expectation. They have worked with us to give prompt, diligent and passionate attention to the legislative needs of the people of Imo. They have constituted themselves into veritable partners in the Rebuild Imo project.

“As an administration, we have had a total of eighteen (18) bills passed into Law under our watch (including few of them by the 8th Assembly). 18 bills in a 6-month period is no mean feat. Of these 18 bills, 12 have previously been signed into Law, including the 2019 Supplementary (Re-ordered) Appropriation Bill which was recently signed.

“As we bring this event to a close, I further appreciate the State legislature for its dutiful approach to its constitutional responsibilities; I look forward to more signing ceremonies in this legislatively pro-active era”.

Present at the event were: Imo Deputy Governor, Gerald Irona; Speaker Imo State House of Assembly, Chiji Collins; Majority Leader Imo State House of Assembly, Uche Nwaneri; SSG, Uche Onyeagucha; Principal Secretary, Gov. TUC Nwokonkw; Clerk of the Assembly, Chinelo Emeghara; Attorney General, Ndukwe Nnawuchi SAN; Special Adviser to the governor on Legislative Matters, Nnaemeka Maduagwu;

Commissioner for Public Utilities, Chuma Nnaji and Commissioners for Finance; Budget and Economic Planning, Uche Uwaleke and Reginald Ihebuzo and members of the Expanded Executive Council.
The bills signed by the governor include:

1. Imo State Pools betting, Gaming, Casino and Lotteries Board Bill
2. Environmental Transformation Commission (Amendment) Bill
3. Law Reform Committee (Amendment) Bill
4. Imo State Power and Rural Electrification (Amendment) Bill
5. Imo State 2020 Appropriation Bill
   Highlight of the Bills previously passed by the Assembly and signed by the governor include;
6. Local Government Administration (Amendment) Law
7. Imo State Sports Commission Law
8. Imo State Power and Electrification Agency Law
9. Imo State Market Development Law
10. Imo State Signage and Advertising Agency Law
11. Imo State Facilities Management Agency
12. Public Procurement (Amendment) Law
13. Imo State Electoral (Amendment) Law
14. Universal Basic Education (Amendment) Law
15. Hotel Occupancy and Consumption Law
16. Imo State Employment Trust Fund Law
    Chibuike Onyeukwu
    Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
    December 27, 2019