The Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Chief Moses Ije Odunwa has posited that the legislative responsibilities of any elected legislator transgressed from making laws to how to make the laws functional.
Odunwa who is equally the Deputy National Chairman of the APC Speakers' Forum stated this at the 3-day workshop organised by USAID Nigeria State Accountability, Transparency, and Effectiveness (State2State) Activity on Legislative Budget Oversight held at Nike Lake Resort Enugu, Enugu State.
The Speaker in a press release by the Public Relations Officer of the Ebonyi State House Assembly, Mr Egede Sylvester maintained that the process of budget Planning should entail public participation where the aspirations and needs of the populace will be captured.
He added that for any budget proposal to be well implemented, the lawmakers should follow the implementation through overnight visits which will let them know the actual level of compliance with the approved budget.
Odunwa commended the USAID State2State for its programmes in Ebonyi State which have imparted greatly in both budget preparation and implementation and added that the workshop on Legislative Budget Oversight has given a new impetus on how best to make an approved budget work.
Lending his voice, the Deputy Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Comrade Chinedu Onah said the workshop and the activities of USAID State2State in Ebonyi have been very impactful noting that the workshop on Legislative Budget Oversight made them know the importance of oversight visits, budget inclusiveness and proper budget proposal.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the House Committee on Water Resources, Mrs Chinyere Nwogbaga, and the Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Barr. Aloysius Nwodo, the Chairman House Committee on Health, Mrs Esther Agwu and her counterpart from the Public Accounts, Chief Godwin Abiri applauded the USAID State2State Activity for making the lawmakers know more about the Community Charter of Demands in the state.
The legislators assured of reaching out to the ministries, departments and agencies in charge of those sectors before budget approvals
Other speakers including the Chief Whip of the House, Prince Nkemka Okoro Onumah, the Deputy Leader, Joseph Ununu, Chairman of the State House Committee on Youth and Sports Development, Dr Victor Nwoke, among other lawmakers hailed the USAID Nigeria State2State Activity adding that Ebonyi State could not have gotten it better.
Earlier in his remarks, the State Team Lead, Dr Sam Onyia, said the workshop was meant to build the capacity of the key Committees of the State House of Assembly on Budget Oversight, acquaint them with Budgetary Processes and specific steps in budget oversight, and sensitize the participants on the effective application of a standard legislative oversight template which will be useful in conducting oversight for the implementation of the approved budget.
Munachiso Odulana who is a Citizen Engagement and Capacity Building Specialist of the USAID State2State delivered papers on Legislative Oversight and Steps in Budget Oversight, said citizen's involvement allows participation in Budget Proposal which brings diverse perspectives and priorities to the budgeting process thereby leading to more informed and equitable outcomes.
The USAID State2State Local Government Area Manager Mrs Victoria Eze talked on "Mainstreaming Conflict in Legislative Budget Oversight" and urged Assembly Members to ensure inclusive consultations on government Programmes and policies, while the USAID State2State Public Finance Management Specialist, Mr Chibueze Nwonye lectured on the State Annual Budget / Appropriation law and Implementation Oversight by the legislature.
In conclusion, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Mrs Mfon Williamson, lauded the USAID State2State for bringing Ebonyi out of yesteryears as budget proposals and implementation have taken on new dimensions since the arrival of the USAID State2State Activity in the State.
She revealed that their activities have made Ebonyi State have a Budget Manual and Mid-Term Framework, which have all contributed to making budgeting in Ebonyi State easier.
