By: Kebba AF Touray
The Finance and Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly (FPAC) on Thursday, 23 November 2023 engaged officials from the Judiciary on the scrutiny of their 2024 draft estimates as part of their committee bilateral meeting with the line Ministries.
During the bilateral meeting, the Judiciary estimated a budget of six million, five hundred thousand Dalasi (D6,500,000) for electricity, water and sewage. After the scrutiny, FPAC proposed an allocation of Six Million Dalasi (D6M), meaning that the sum of D500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Dalasi) was deducted from the said budget line of the Judiciary. On the maintenance of vehicles budget line of the Judiciary, it is estimated that D5M would be catered for the said budget, and from explanations, FPAC resolved to maintain the budget as estimated by the Judiciary.
On the budget for ceremonial and court gowns, the Finance and Public Accounts committee decided to maintain the estimates. The access to Judiciary budget line estimated at D4,425,000 (Four Million, Four Hundred and Twenty-Five Thousand Dalasi) was maintained by FPAC without cuts or deductions.
The purchase of 25 vehicles totaling D76 Million (Seventy-Six Million Dalasi) which aims to ensure the smooth movement of Magistrates, was reduced to a total number of 18 vehicles amounting to D48,700,000 (Forty-Eight Million Seven Hundred Thousand Dalasi) and based on the said cut, the 18 vehicles now are 10 pick-ups, 6 saloon cars, 1 coaster and 1 pajero.
The budget lines such as Alternative Peaceful Resolution estimated at One Million Seven Hundred Dalasi (D1, 700,000) and case management estimated at Five Million and Fifteen Thousand Dalasi (D5, 15,000) were also all maintained by the FPAC.
