NEWS
Abia State House of Assembly Passes Landmark Appropriation Amendment and Development Continuity Bills to Strengthen Fiscal Efficiency and Secure Long-Term Growth
The Abia State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, recorded a major legislative milestone with the passage of two critical Bills aimed at enhancing fiscal management and guaranteeing sustainable development in the state.
The Bills, namely HAB 41: Abia State of Nigeria 2025 Appropriation Amendment (Virement) Bill, 2025, and HAB 42: Abia State Development (Institutionalization and Continuity) Bill, 2025, were both sponsored by the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Okoro Uchenna Kalu.
Their passage followed extensive legislative processes during plenary, including the first reading of HAB 42 and the second reading of HAB 41. Both Bills were subsequently subjected to amendments, consideration at the committee stage, and thorough deliberations before being read the third time and passed into law.
Announcing the passage, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Ihuoma Emeruwa, disclosed that upon assent by the Executive Governor of Abia State, the laws would be deemed effective from August 1, 2025, for HAB 41, and December 16, 2025, for HAB 42.
Leading the debate earlier, the Majority Leader, Hon. Uchenna Okoro, explained that HAB 41 seeks to vire the sum of ₦127,687,196,965 for the services of the Abia State Government for the year ending December 31, 2025. He noted that the Bill is designed to allow the transfer of funds from areas of surplus to sectors of greater need, thereby enabling government operations to function more efficiently and respond effectively to emerging priorities.
On HAB 42, Hon. Okoro described the Bill as a transformative legal framework establishing the Abia State Development Plan (2024–2050) as the supreme economic, social, and infrastructural development blueprint for the state. He stated that the law institutionalises the development plan across successive administrations, ensuring policy continuity, stability, and long-term planning.
He further emphasized that the legislation provides both legal and institutional structures for sustainable development, promotes economic growth, enhances social welfare, drives infrastructural renewal, and strengthens transparency and citizen participation in governance.
According to him, the law will also empower Abians to annually review government performance, thereby deepening accountability and inclusive governance.
The passage of the two Bills underscores the Abia State House of Assembly’s commitment to sound fiscal governance, policy consistency, and the pursuit of a structured and sustainable development trajectory for the state.