A member of the House of Representatives and Chairman of the House Committee on Renewable Energy, Hon. Victor Ogene, has charged journalists to hold the government at all levels accountable in budget implementation.
Addressing members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council, after the union’s triennial delegate conference at the Godwin Ezeemo Int’l Press Centre, Awka, on Friday, Hon. Ogene stated that most state governors run “closed budgets.”
He said that the budgets of most state governments do not contain specific amounts appropriated for designated projects.
Unlike the national budget, which contains specifics, state government budget estimates mainly feature sectoral allocations without details of the various projects earmarked for implementation and their respective costs, according to the member representing the Ogbaru Federal Constituency of Anambra State.
He urged journalists to scrutinize state government budgets for proper accountability.
“It is disheartening that some state lawmakers do not know the details of the state budget they approve for the governor to implement,” Ogene stated.
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He noted that investigative journalism is dwindling and urged journalists to step up and remain committed to their responsibilities as society’s watchdog.
The immediate past chairman of the Anambra State Council of NUJ, Comrade Emeka Odogwu, was re-elected after securing an overwhelming 170 votes to defeat his former vice-chairman and sole challenger, Comrade Ngozi Obileri, who polled 40 votes. Comrade Beatrice Onuchukwu-Ekwueme emerged as vice-chairman, while Dr. Okechukwu Onuegbu of Blueprint Newspaper was elected secretary.
In his speech after the swearing-in of his new executive, Odogwu particularly thanked the state governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo; the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor; and the Special Adviser on Political Matters, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, for resisting pressure to interfere in the council election.
He promised to work hard to elevate the council to greater heights and urged his co-contestant and other council members to unite and work towards the progress of the council and the improvement of members’ welfare.
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