By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City.
Edo House of Assembly Tuesday passed a Bill for a law to amend the Edo State Audit Law 2021.
The passage of the Bill followed a letter by the state Governor Godwin Obaseki requesting the amendment of some sections of it’s principal Law.
The House at the Committee of a whole considered the Bill as it amended sections to provide for a fixed tenure for the Auditor General of the State Audit Commission.
Majority leader Rt.Hon. Henry Okhuarobo explained that the amendment was also to provide for the appointment of either a public or private sector individuals as Auditor General in the State.
Recall that Edo House of Assembly passed a bill for a law to repeal the Edo state Audit law 2019 and enact the Edo state Audit law 2021, in June this year. The bill made provision for the establishment of Edo State Audit Service Commission and Office of the Auditor General of the State.
The House in consideration of the Bill also approved a four-year term for the Auditor General which can be renewed for a further term subject to the confirmation of the House of assembly.
The House further approved the appointment of either a public or private sector individuals as Auditor General in the State.
Section 22 of the principal Law was also amended to read that the Auditor General must have 15 years professional experience in accounting and auditing .
The House unanimously approved the amendment and the Bill was thereafter given it’s third reading by the clerk of the house, Alhaji Yahaya Omogbai.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Amb Marcus Onobun directed that clean copies of the Bill be forwarded to the governor for his assent. Also at the Committee of a whole, members considered the enactment, title , different sectors, grand total of capital and recurrent expenditure of the 2021 approved reversed appropriation bill.
The bill enjoyed the support of the Deputy Whip who is also the Chairman House committee on Appropriation, Hon.Ephraim Aluebhosele, Majority Leader Rt.Hon. Henry Okhuarobo and other members .
The Speaker , Rt.Hon. Marcus Onobun while giving an update on the journey of the Bill approved the reversed appropriation Bill and directed that clean copies of the Bill be forwarded to the Governor of the State for his assent.
Meanwhile a petition on the unlawful dismissal from Office of Mrs Juliana Agele , a senior Registrar Grade One by the judicial service commission was referred to the House Committee on Public Petition for investigation.
Under personal explanations, Member Representing Akoko Edo Constituency two Hon. Emmanuel Agbaje commended the intervention of security agencies in the release of the kidnapped pupils of gloryland school Akoko Edo.
The Speaker also commended Governor Obaseki for the prompt intervention which resulted in the early release of the kidnapped pupils while Majority leader Rt.Hon. Henry Okhuorobo also congratulated the Speaker on his recent investiture as a knight of Saint Christopher.