Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed for the second reading the Akwa Ibom State Legislative Fund Management Bill 2019 during its plenary.
Leader of the House, Sir Udo Kierian Akpan (Oruk Anam State Constituency), who sponsored the Bill, said the Bill sought to provide for the management of funds accruing to the State House of Assembly from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state in order to ensure accountability, transparency, effective and efficient utilisation of funds.
He said the Bill provides for the establishment of a committee known as the Fund Management Board which shall consider matters in which funds in the House Account are applied for the services and administration of the State House of Assembly.
Sir Akpan said the Board shall submit quarterly reports in respects of funds accruing to the State House of Assembly, saying the Board shall have the Clerk of the House as Chairman of the Board and Directors of various Departments and Units.
He listed the Departments and Units to include Administration, Supplies, Legislative Matters, Finance, Accounts, Planning, Research and Statistics, Legislative Budget, Audit and Legal Services.
The Lawmaker noted that the Board shall perform functions relating to all contracts, works, services and procurements of the State House of Assembly up to the sum of Five Million Naira.
He appealed for support from other members of the House to enable the Bill to see the light of the day.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, has directed the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation to conduct an in-depth study on the Bill and report back to the House within one month.
