Enugu: House gives committee chairmen two weeks to submit reports

The Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Mr Eugene Odo, has given  chairmen of the assembly committees two weeks to submit their reports.

Odo, who gave the ultimatum in Enugu on Thursday during the assembly plenary, said any committee that failed to comply would be penalised.

He urged the committees to ensure the submission of their reports before the presentation of the 2014 appropriation bill by the executive arm of the government.

“I wish to call on all the committees with outstanding reports to submit same within two weeks or you will be penalised.

“I wish to say that if you do not comply, your work will be subjected to the Committee of the Whole House,'' Odo said.

The Clerk of the assembly, Mr Christopher Chukwurah, however, presented the reports of the Auditor-General's annual accounts for the year ended Dec. 31, 2012.

Chukwurah also presented the financial statements of the Accountant-General for the same year.

The reports were later referred to the committee on public accounts for further legislative scrutiny.

In another development, the assembly held a valedictory session for a former lawmaker, Chief Hyacinth Udeani, who represented Awgu North Constituency in the old Anambra State between 1979 and 1983.

The speaker, the Leader, Mr Sunday Ude-Okoye; the Deputy Leader, Mr Kelvin Ukuta; and Mr Nelson Uduji, the member representing the deceased, eulogised him, describing him as a “true representative of the people''.

Chief Maximus Ukuta, a one-time commissioner in the old Anambra State, and Chief P.C. Okeke, a former lawmaker in the House of Representatives (Awgu North,1979-1983), said the deceased lived a life worthy of emulation.

Responding, the first son of the late lawmaker, Mr Harrison Udeani, commended the assembly for the honour done his father and promised to sustain the good legacies he left behind.