By: Kebba AF Touray
The Finance and Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly (FPAC) has recommended for reduction of over Two Hundred and Thirty-Six Million Dalasi (D236M) from the budget estimates of the entities.
The FPAC made these recommended reductions in its consolidated report on the committee bilateral with the respective Ministries on the 2024 budget estimates of revenue and expenditure of the Gambia 1st January to 31st December 2024, both days inclusive.
He unveiled these recommended reductions at the National Assembly on Monday 27th November 2023, while laying the said consolidated report before the plenary for scrutiny and consideration.
Laying the report, he told the assembly that in scrutinizing the budget of MDAs, Committees were guided by the resolution adopted by the National Assembly during its pre-budget retreat, and that is to consider reducing the budget deficit of D4.45 billion representing 2.55% of the Nominal GDP and savings made should not be reallocated to sectors.
However, he said the Committees were cautioned not to reduce budget lines that could have negative impact on the operations of Government.
He said “The Committee recommends a total reduction of Fifteen Million Eight Hundred Thousand Dalasi (D15,800,000) from the National Assembly’s budget. Furthermore, the Committee recommends reallocations to priority budget lines as indicated on the attached addendum”.
On the submission of the Judiciary, he said that the Committee recommends a total reduction of Seventy-Four Million Three Hundred Thousand Dalasi (D74,300,000) from the Judiciary’s submission, and also recommended some reallocations to priority budget lines.
He said that on the submissions of the Independent Electoral Commission, the Committee recommends a total reduction of Forty-Eight Million Five Hundred and Eighty-Two Thousand and Five Hundred Dalasi (D48,582,500) from the IEC’s budget.
“Furthermore, the Committee recommends reallocations to priority budget lines as indicated on the attached addendum”, he said.
He said the Committee recommended a total reduction of Thirty-Six Million Five Hundred and Eighty-Three Thousand Dalasi (D36,583,000) from the National Audit Office(NAO’s) submission, and recommended reallocations to priority budget lines as indicated on the attached addendum.
On the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs the Committee recommends a total reduction of Fifty-Eighty Million One Hundred and Fifty-Four Thousand Dalasi (D58, 154,000) from the Ministry’s budget, and recommended relocations to priority budget lines.
FPAC Chair also reported that on the Office of the Ombudsman, the committee recommended a total reduction of One Million Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand Dalasi (D1,470,000) from the Ombudsman’s budget, and recommended reallocations to priority budget lines.
“On The Ministry of Public Service, Administrative Reforms & Policy Coordination There was no savings under the Ministry’s budget. However, he said the Committee recommends reallocations to priority budget as lines”, he said.
Dilating on the Ministries, he said that the committee recommends that the Ministry of Defense revise the rents and rates ceiling for GAF Officers to One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dalasi(D150,000) maximum to cater for more officers.
On the Ministry of Interior, he said the FPAC recommended that Three Million Five Hundred and Seventy-Five Thousand Dalasi (D3,575,000) to be allocated to Arms and Ammunition from the amount that was saved from the Ministry’s budget.
On the Foreign Affairs Ministry, he said that the committee recommended a total reduction of Four Million and Ninety-Two Thousand Dalasi (D4,092,000) from the Ministry’s budget. However, the Committee further recommends reallocation to priority budget as indicated on the attached addendum
