Why We Lately Approved N1.6B ‘Exit Package’ for Gov. Umahi– Ebonyi House of Assembly
By, Paschal Osigwe
Friday: May 5, 2023.
It came as a huge shock to the public when the story about the Ebonyi State House of Assembly voting for a whopping sum of 1.6 billion naira to be made available to the out-going state governor in what they tagged “Exit Package”. However, senior members of the State parliament has come out to explain the reason for the money.
According to a source from the state assembly, they only approved a fund for an exit package, which is targeted at appreciating those who have worked with the governor. The source further declared the gesture to be ‘just a welfare package’.
News men further gathered that the approval of the money was debated upon on the floor of the House by members, led by the Deputy Speaker, Kinsley Ikoro, representing Afikpo North-West Constituency.
Following this development, the leader of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Chukwu, representing Ezza North-West Constituency, who spoke to newsmen shortly after the house sitting, explained that the approval of the fund was for the interest of the citizens of the state and not for the governor.
In his words: “We only approved a fund for an exit package, which is targeted at appreciating those who have worked with the governor. It is a welfare package for the citizens of the state.
“It is an extension of the empowerment program that the governor has been doing and there is nothing new about it. The fund wasn’t approved for him as a governor but for the interest of Ebonyi citizens. We only approved one billion, six hundred million.”
This development has since gotten the media space in a frenzy with some supporting the action of the State assembly as they claim the gesture shows the two arms of government (Executive and Legislative) have a good understanding and work hand in hand well enough for the good of the State, while a section of reaction opined that isn’t abuse of power and a waste of public funds. The opinion of The state government on the matter is yet to be gotten at the time of filling this report.