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IPAC tackles Ayade over 2018 budget, ‘delayed’ council polls in Cross River

By Clarkson Voke Eberu (Lagos), John Akubo (Lokoja) and Isa Abdulsalami Ahovi (Jos)
22 December 2017   |   3:47 am
The Cross River State chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has tackled Governor Ben Ayade over the 2018 N1.3 trillion budget proposal and his failure to conduct local council elections in the last two years.

Ben Ayade

• Bello, Lalong propose N148b, N145b fiscal estimates for next year
The Cross River State chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has tackled Governor Ben Ayade over the 2018 N1.3 trillion budget proposal and his failure to conduct local council elections in the last two years.

At a press conference attended by over 20 state chairmen and secretaries yesterday in Abuja, the body described the appropriation bill as a “budget of kinetic caricature, which should be withdrawn for a new realistic and achievable estimates for 2018.

“We hereby advise Governor Ayade to withdraw his unrealistic, childish and fraudulent kinetic crystallisation budget of N1.3 trillion.” A statement by its state chairman, Pastor Sunday Michael, advised Ayade to resign over what they termed as his “gross ineptitude or he should perish any thought of re-contesting in 2019.”

Other allegations levelled against the governor include “the refusal of the state government to have its accounts audited by the Auditor General which “only goes to confirm the colossal fraud that has characterised the Ayade-led government.”He said they are “embarrassed that despite the absence of audited accounts in the past two years, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-controlled House of Assembly has proceeded to consider and pass the state’s budget year after year. We are, therefore, at a loss as to how and what figures the budget is based upon.

“As if the foregoing was not enough, ‘Emperor’ Ayade has now presented a ludicrous budget of N1.3 trillion naira, appropriately naming it budget of kinetic crystallisation. In recognition of the failure of the N300 billion 2017 budget, Ayade did not bother to avail the House with a budget performance review.

“Being the puppets they have shown themselves to be, we will not be surprised if the Assembly proceeds to pass this kinetically crystallised 2018 budget without an audited accounts or a performance review of the past budget.”IPAC urged the legislature to live up to its responsibility by not being used as rubber stamps.

It further called on the state Independent Electoral Commission “to as a matter of urgency, conduct local government elections on or before January 31, 2018.”In a related development, the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, yesterday presented a budget proposal of N147, 827, 854, 495 billion to the state House of Assembly for the 2018 fiscal year.

The appropriation bill, he said, comprises a recurrent expenditure of N64 billion, which is 43.18 per cent and capital expenditure of N84 billion, representing 56.82 per cent of the budget and is less than the 2017 budget by N44 billion.Meanwhile, Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, yesterday presented N145 billion budget for 2018 to the State House of Assembly for consideration.

Presenting the appropriation bill tagged: Budget of Rescue and Consolidation, Lalong said it was an honour and privilege to present the 2018 budget estimate to the House.“In this budget, we shall be consolidating on the gains and achievements of this administration since the beginning of our rescue mission,” he said.

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