Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi state, on Monday signed into law an appropriation bill of N99.99 billion, disregarding the directive of the national assembly that he should send the budget for approval.
Assenting to the bill in Lokoja, Bello described the bill as budget of change and promised its full implementation. According to him, a budget monitoring implementation committee will be set up to coordinate and monitor its full implementation.
The Special Adviser on Legislative Matters to the Governor, Mr. Haruna Okpanachi, commended the lawmakers for their support for the executive arm, urging them to remain steadfast in the determination to deliver dividends of democracy to the people
Following the crisis rocking the state house of assembly, the national assembly took over the functions of Kogi legislature, and ordered Solomon Arase, inspector-general of police, to seal the state assembly.
The house resolved that all resolutions, laws and actions taken by the Kogi assembly from the date of the national assembly’s resolution to seal it were null and void.
“The governor of Kogi state is to send the state budget and other executive bills to the national assembly for consideration as stipulated in section 11 of the constitution,” said Femi Gbajabiamila, chairman of the committee on the crisis.
But Bello went ahead to sign his first budget, which he tagged: ‘Budget of Change’, promising to ensure 100% implementation.
The governor thanked Kogi lawmakers for their support in ensuring the passage of the budget “despite distractions”.
Bello promised to work towards blocking all leakages of government finances to pave way for rapid development.
