The amendment was considered and passed during a Special Plenary held at the Legislative Complex, Nkaliki Road, Abakaliki on Wednesday, and presided over by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Moses Ije Odunwa.
Leading the debate on the Bill, the Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Kingsley Ikoro, highlighted the key areas of the proposed amendment and stressed the need for its speedy passage in the interest of effective administration and improved management of the State's debt affairs.
Following the debate, Rt. Hon. Ikoro, moved a motion for the House to dissolve into a Committee of the Whole to enable members to undertake a detailed consideration of the provisions of the Bill. The motion was seconded by the Chief Whip of the House, Chief Nkemka Okoro Onuma, and was subsequently adopted.
Upon reconvening in Plenary, the Speaker of the House, Chief Moses Odunwa, assumed his seat and reported progress.
Reporting the progress, Speaker Odunwa stated that Section 11 of the principal Law had been amended to change the designation of the office from "Director" to "Director General." He further explained that the interpretation provision in Section 5 of the principal Law had also been amended to reflect the designation "Director General."
According to the Speaker, the amended Section 11 provides for the establishment of the office of a Director General, who shall be appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the Committee. The Director General shall be appointed from the State Civil Service or from among retired Civil Servants, and if appointed from the Civil Service of the State, shall not be below the rank of financial, budgetary and/or planning matters.
The Speaker further stated that the Director General shall hold office for a period of five years in the first instance term of five years and no more; and shall be responsible to the Committee for policy direction and the day-to-day administration of the Office. The Director General shall also hold office on such terms and conditions as may be contained in the letter of appointment.
Following a motion moved by the Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Kingsley Ikoro, and seconded by the Member representing Ebonyi North West State Constituency, Hon. Aloysius Nwodo, the Speaker put the Bill to a voice vote, and it was unanimously passed.
Speaker Odunwa thereafter directed the Clerk of the House, Mrs. Edene Uche Blessing, to prepare and forward a communication to the Governor of Ebonyi State, Rt. Hon. Bldr. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, conveying the passage of the amended Law.
Similarly, the House approved a proposal for the recovery of Ebonyi State's pension reimbursement from the Federal Government through the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD).
The Plenary was thereafter adjourned to another legislative day following a motion moved by the Leader of the House, Rt. Hon. Kingsley Ikoro, and seconded by the Member representing Izzi West State Constituency, Hon. Godwin Abiri.
From Theophilus Ifeanyi Igwe,
Chief Press Secretary to the Rt. Hon. Speaker.
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