Proceedings of the Bakassi Legislative Assembly were thrown into turmoil on Thursday following a heated dispute over the handling of the 2026 budget, with lawmakers openly challenging the procedure adopted in its submission for assent and demanding corrective action NEGROIDHAVEN can report.
Tension rose during plenary when the Clerk of the Assembly, Mrs. Jesam Odu, explained that the 2026 budget had been written, submitted and assented to by Effiong Etim Okon the Chairman of Bakassi Local Government before the end of December, a disclosure that immediately drew objections from several councillors.
Members of the Assembly argued that the budget did not undergo full legislative consideration, including second reading, committee scrutiny and public hearing, before it was forwarded, describing the development as a breach of established legislative procedure.
Hon. Miriam Okon (Ward 3) questioned how the budget could be regarded as approved when, according to her, the House had not deliberated on it beyond first reading. She warned that excluding elected representatives from the process undermined the role of the legislature and denied constituencies the opportunity to make inputs.
Other lawmakers, including Hon. Ita Edet Nyoki (Ward 5), Hon. Ene Edet (Ward 4), Hon. Nkoyo Effiong Okon (Ward 9) and Hon. Kenneth Orok Edem (Ward 8), also condemned the process, insisting that no budget could be validly submitted without the knowledge and consent of the Assembly.
The Deputy Leader of the Assembly and Chairman of the Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Hon. Prince Mkpeti (Ward 6), described the situation as unprecedented in Bakassi Local Government, stating that the committee and members were not consulted before the budget was forwarded.
In her response, Mrs. Odu apologised to the House, explaining that she acted based on the instructions of the Director of Budget in the council regarding submission deadlines from the supervising ministry.
“I am very sorry for taking the budget without the leader. I was working based on the understanding that councils that failed to submit before December 31 could be penalised,” she said.
However, the explanation failed to calm tensions, as the Leader of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Grace Bassey, ruled that the Clerk had no authority to submit a budget without legislative approval, describing the development as an abuse of office and an embarrassment to the House.
Following the debate, motions were raised on the floor of the Assembly calling for corrective measures, as lawmakers insisted that the 2026 budget must be returned for proper legislative scrutiny in line with due process.
