The leadership of the Bayelsa State Assembly has suspended the Clerk of the House, Kozigena Owudogu, for a period of three months, starting from December 2020.
The suspension followed a matter brought before the lawmakers by Minority Whip, Timi Omubu-Agala, accusing the Clerk of failing to give
information to the leadership of the House necessary for the State’s legislature’s budget to be captured in the Bayelsa 2021 Appropriation Bill.
According to Agala-Omubo, the Clerk unilaterally forwarded the State Assembly’s budget projections without consultation, an act which displayed insubordination, tantamount to depriving the House its right of financial autonomy.
Speaker Abraham Ingobere condemned the action of Kozigena and thereafter called for a vote on the motion by Timi Omubu-Agala which also demanded that he steps aside for three months, pending an investigation into his offence.
The motion seconded by Godbless Oyinki was overwhelmingly endorsed by members at the sitting.
Ait.live gathered that the Clerk who was present while his suspension was announced, had a day earlier owned up to the infraction before the leadership of the Assembly.
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The lawmakers are now making frantic efforts to send the State Assembly’s budget to the Executives for it to be captured in next year’s Appropriation and fiscal document.
The Deputy Clerk, Kent Adogu has been directed to take over the responsibility of the suspended Kozigena in the interim.
(Editor: Abaje Usekwe)
