By Kebba AF Touray
The Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) has recommended the removal of D416 million from the national budget which is now being discussed by parliamentarians.
In total, the committee recommended savings of four hundred and sixteen million, forty-six thousand and seven hundred and forty-seven Dalasi (D416,046,747.00)
The Breakdown of the said total savings are as thus; Office of the President D41,400,000.00; National Assembly D11, 250,000.00; Ministry of Finance D77,576,000.00; Centralized Service D106,187,000.00; Judiciary D30,200,000.00; National Audit Office D5,528,159.00; Independent Electoral Commission D108,201,338.00; Ministry of Foreign Affairs D20,704,250.00; and Ministry of Works D15,000,000.00
The recommendations are contained in the report which was laid by the Chairperson of FPAC, Hon. Alhagie S Darboe on Wednesday, 27 November 2024.
Some of the items were removed altogether while others put under other items of the budget.
On the Office of the President, he said that a total of 25,400,000 and 19,000,000 were reduced from the recurrent and development budgets, respectively.
He added: “It is recommended that the 3,000,000 operating cost under the development budget be utilized as Personnel Emoluments (PE) and Operating Costs (OC) for the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA)”.
With respect to the National Assembly, he reported that the sum of 6,250,000was reduced from the recurrent budget whereas 5,000,000was reduced from the development budget.
On the Judiciary, he reported: “While the recurrent budget of the Judiciary remains untouched, 30,200,000 was reduced from the development budget”.
With regards to the Independent Electoral Commission, he said that the sum of 86,101,338 was reduced from the recurrent budget, “an amount of 22,100,000 was reduced from the 57,100,000 budgeted for vehicles on the development budget, leaving a balance of D35,000,000.”.
He further stated that a total of 5,528,159was reduced from the recurrent budget, but the development budget remains the same for the National Audit Office.
As regards the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, he informed the plenary that the sum of 14,481,500 was reduced from the recurrent budget, out of which 1,500,000 was subsequently added back, whilst “a total of 70,594,500 was reduced from the development budget”.
He indicated that with regards to the Centralized Services, “the sum of 106,187,000 was reduced from this budget entity”.
