There was some mild drama inside the premises of the Imo state House of Assembly complex in Owerri, on Tuesday, November 28, as lawmakers reportedly shunned Governor Rochas Okorocha’s 2018 budget presentation.
The lawmakers, as well as staff of the state house of assembly, were no where to be found on the day the budget presentation was scheduled to take place. The chamber, reportedly remained locked all day.
The presentation was then cancelled in the evening after it became clear the presentation could no longer be done.
Reports by the Punch, quoted a source as claiming that the lawmakers were angry that they have been taken for granted by the executive arm.
“The lawmakers are protesting because the executive left them in the limbo about the budget presentation.”
“How can you inform the lawmakers about an important constitutional assignment as the budget presentation through just a mere radio announcement and press statement?” the report quoted a source as asking.
However, in his reaction to the incident, the chief press secretary to the Imo state speaker, Marcel Ekwezuo, said errors discovered in the prepared speech, necessitated the cancellation of the event.
“The lawmakers discovered errors in the budget presentation. It would be wise to present a clean budget to the legislators. A new date for the presentation will be announced soon.”
“The correction of the errors discovered by the lawmakers is not a house committee thing; the lawmakers are to do it as individuals. We hope to present a sound budget soon,” he said.
In a similar light, Sam Onwuemeodo, chief press secretary to Governor Okorocha said: “With utmost regret, we wish to inform the public that the announced presentation of the 2018 budget to the Imo state House of Assembly by Governor Rochas Okorocha, fixed for Tuesday, November 28, 2017, could no longer hold, owing largely to disturbing discrepancies discovered in the budget speech.”
