Members of the Imo state House of Assembly, yesterday, in its resumed plenary, unanimously approved a re-ordered supplementary budget of Twenty Three Billion, Seven Hundred and Fifty-Two Million, Six Hundred and Ten Thousand, Five Hundred Fifty Seven Naira (N23,752,610,557) for the year ended 2014.
Raising the motion before her colleagues, the Majority leader of the House and member representing Ahiazu Mbaise state constituency, Hon. Mrs Adaku Ihuoma, implored members of the House to give accelerated passage to the supplementary budget, as this would accord the executive the necessary support in carrying out its duties in the interest of the good people of the state.
The House also amended the law establishing the proposed Imo Turkish University and re-named it Imo state Claretian University, Onuimo-Okigwe.
The member representing Isu state constituency, Hon. Ikenna Emeh, had in his contribution to the bill, told his colleagues that the amendment in the name of the proposed institution became necessary following an alleged non-commitment of the Turkish stakeholders, who were supposed partners in the establishment of the institution, adding that the order of the Claretian missionary has shown enough interest in partnering with the state government towards ensuring that the University is established.
Similarly, the House also amended the law establishing the Imo state College of Education (Technical) to become the Imo state College of Education, Ihitte-Uboma.
Contributing to the bill, the member for Isiala Mbano state constituency, Hon. Simeon Iwunze, explained to the House that the amendment of the bill establishing the institution would give it a wider scope, both in admission and in attracting the necessary logistics needed for its sustainability.
On the law establishing the state Polytechnic, the House also effected its amendment to enable the institution begin the award of Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech), as well the Higher National Diploma (HND) to its successful students.
The member for Ohaji/Egbema state constituency, Hon. Luke Chukwu, while appealing to his colleagues to accord the bill necessary support, noted that upgrading the institution would no doubt, shore up the credibility of the institution and make it more attractive, even beyond the state, as according to him necessary platforms and structures have been put in place to support its immediate take-off.
Hon. Simeon Iwunze, while describing the amended bill as world class, maintained that such action would give the Polytechnic a great leverage among its contemporaries in the country.
The bill later scaled through to the third reading.
In his ruling, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu, thanked his colleagues for devoting time to discharge their constitutional duties, despite the demands of the electioneering campaigns.
He used the forum to congratulate the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari Rtd, Governor Rochas Okorocha, as well as other members of the House who scaled through the recently concluded 2015 general elections, while wishing those who participated in the electoral process well in their future endeavors.
