N14.9 billion Supplementary Appropriation Bill for 2010 has been passed by Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly. The bill was passed Wednesday during the sitting of the House. The speaker of Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, Mr. Anietie Etuk while announcing the passage of the bill said the state accountant-general would issue a warrant which will be authorized by the state governor for sum not exceeding N14.9 billion from the capital development fund.

Earlier, the chairman of House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Mr. Samuel Ikon, said that the state governor, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio had on Tuesday, September 7, 2010 submitted to the House the 2010 supplementary budget. Mr. Ikon listed highlights of the budget to include: N3.5 billion for provision of special security equipment and N1.4 billion for payment of compensation to displaced traders of Uyo market for loss of stalls and business opportunities.

Others are N7.5 billion for State Housing Scheme and N2.5 billion for special taxi scheme. Mr. Ikon said based on the request made by the governor, the committee amended the initial approved provision of N10 billion for housing project and recommended the sum of N7.5 billion to bring the revised appropriation to N17.5 billion. He said the committee also augmented by N1.4 billion, the original provision of N5 billion for payment of compensation to displaced traders of Uyo main market, bringing the total to N6.4 billion.

On urban transportation scheme and security equipment, the finance and appropriation committee chairman said, "The committee augmented the original provision of N500 million by N3.5 billion bringing the total provision to N4 billion for purchasing of special security equipment and vehicles to combat the incidence of kidnapping and other crimes. The committee also augmented by N2.5 billion the original provision of N300million under this head (Urban transportation scheme) to provide for purchase of additional vehicles to strengthen the urban transportation system of the state, thereby bringing a total provision to N2.8 billion. He said altogether the amendments have brought an increase of N14,900,000,000. This increases the initial approved total budget size of N298,520,550,770 to a revised total budget size of N313,420,550,770 made up of N48,727,142,770 for recurrent services and N264,693,408,000 for capital expenditure.

Based on the above details, the committee recommended that the N14.9 billion supplementary appropriation bill for 2010 as submitted by the governor be passed without amendment, and was obliged by the House.