Hon. Members Spent Millions On Tours

Though, it is said that Legislative arm of Government is self accounting, their movement to United States of America could not be sponsored solely by them given the Finances of the state. However, it is alleged that the State Government may not have failed to contribute to their movement to over seas as the tour gulped several hundreds of millions of naira.
The Cross River State House of Assembly has 25 Members. All the Members and some officials a source hinted have spent not less than two to three weeks or more abroad, it is said that they were there to learn Legislative tenets of America with a view to adopting same to the practice in the House.
A source however, alleged that the movement of the Honourable Members abroad was appreciation for the Honorable members, who supported the coming back of Senator Liyel Imoke during the re-run elections in the State. Ntufam John Okon, the Clark of the House was said to have travelled with the Members abroad.
None of the member was available for comment when our Correspondent visited the House of the Assembly; even though, it is said they are back to the country. Some people who spoke to Newsday at the National House of Assembly claimed to be staffers of the Assembly declined comment when this correspondent approached them.
The Chief Press Secretary, who is also Special assistant to the Governor on Media, Mr. Patrick Ugbe told our Correspondent on Phone that the allegations are not true as the Governor has not sponsored any member abroad; he denied State Government involvement on the tour by Honourable Members.
He said the Honorable Members went; their own. The State Government was not a party to their movement abroad as they are separate arm of government. “These people are on their own, they are self accounting, and they run their budget. The State Governor has not sponsored any of the Honorable member abroad neither has he committed State resources to the movement of the Honorable members”.
The CPS/SA, urged Cross Riverians to concentrate on their work and eschew rumour- mongering as it does not pay. He called on the people to rally round the Governor so that Government of the day can provide dividends of democracy to them all the times.