As Ministries and Agencies budget defense at the National Assembly continues, the Gombe State House of Assembly has embarked on its annual retreat with focus on budget monitoring and tracking among others.
The retreat was to ensure that the legislature is able to function well with the opportunity to acquire capacity, to drive the process of development and good governance in Gombe State.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Transportation, Saidu Alkali, stated that the ongoing annual retreat will discuss critical issues that will enhance the capacity for quality budget legislation and effective oversight.
Alkali informed that the choice of topics such as Budget Monitoring and Tracking, Operationalization of Financial Autonomy, Bill Process, Scrutiny and Analysis as well as Techniques for Conduct of Oversight, Work plan development by Committees and Operations of Committee System will certainly equip them to acquire more skills that makes your constitutional duty easy and result oriented.
He said: “I want to commend the Speaker and the management of the State House of Assembly for conceiving the idea of organizing this laudable retreat and when you look at the team of the retreat, Legislation through effective budget performance, there won’t be any development without any budget and the instrument of government that is in power of appropriation is of course, the State and the National Assembly.
“The retreat is up and timely and it will go forwarder in strengthening the relationship between the executive and Legislature in the development of this country.
“Budget is a function of income, the more revenue you have, the more budget you will have but the state governors are doing their best to see how they can implement the annual budget and estimate”.
The Speaker, Gombe State House of Assembly, Honourable Abubakar Muhammed, stated that the significant of the annual retreat cannot be over emphasized as it strengthened and enhanced the skills and ability of members in carrying out their constitutional roles, which is an important key to good governance and effective legislative business.
The Speaker stated that they were honoured to have the presence of the Minister of Transportation, Senator Sa’idu Alkali, who he said is one of their own and a native of Gombe State.
Muhammed said: “I am sure the Honourable Members will pay attention to the resource persons and get maximum benefit of this important retreat”.
Special Adviser, Technical, to the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Dr. Shauibu Danwake, stated that the retreat was organized by Gombe State House of Assembly in collaboration with Sahal Human Resources to provide a platform and opportunity for Honourable Members and management staff of the assembly to acquire skills, knowledge and techniques of law making and conduct of effective oversight.
“Gombe State House of Assembly has been empowered to make laws for the peace, order and good governance of the State, this power is quite enormous and will not be discharged effectively without capacity.”
