232NEWS, FREETOWN –
The Parliament of Sierra Leone has on Monday 31/07/2023 debated and approved with unanimity the Supplementary Appropriation Act 2023.
The Bill is being an Act to revise and make supplementary provision for the Services of Sierra Leone, 2023.
The budget is estimated at Three Billion, Six Hundred and Eighty-Five Million, Five Hundred and Ninety Four Thousand Seven Hundred Leones (3,685,594,700).
Presenting the Budget to Parliament, the Finance Minister, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura informed Parliament that, the micro-economic framework was revised in line with the performance of the IMF’s microeconomic framework in May 2023.The Minister went on to inform Parliament that the revised framework formed the basis of the microeconomic policy in the supplementary budget with revenue and economic projections of the state.
He also said the supplementary budget is aligned with government’s new priorities; in order to articulate government’s priorities and growth as outlined in the Big Five. He also said that considering other factors in the microeconomic performances, Government needs to boost the economic stability of the nation.
He concluded by saying that the budget seeks to address the global economic challenges that are affecting the country and also seeks to address economic policies to boost the country.
In his submission to the debate, Hon. Francis Amara Kai-Samba from Kenema District said the Minister has complied with provisions in the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone to submit the supplementary budget for consideration by Parliament and also underscored the points that the Minister had earlier stated the regarding the supplementary budget.
The Honourable Member spoke on the felt needs of government through the essential addition of new MDAs and the global economic challenges surrounding the world markets. He said in order to actualize the President’s initiatives on development, supplementary budgetary allocations are needed for the implementation of development programmes.
On his part, Hon. Joseph Williams-Lamin from Bo District compared and contrast the 2018 supplementary budget and that of the 2023 supplementary budget, and noted that the country is on the right trajectory. He decried the dramatic increase in food prices from 2018 to 2023 with the rise of the dollar, comparatively to the Leones.
Hon. Rebecca Y. Kamara from Kono District said the handling ofthe economy is very difficult and went on to commend the Minister and his Team for presenting the supplementary budget to Parliament. The Honourable Member went on to remind the Finance Minister of the completion of the construction of the Kono University and other development programmes for the Kono people.
Hon. Abdul Sulaiman Marray-Conteh from Western Urban predicated his submission on the security sector and called on the them to involve in Agricultural activities in order to alleviate the challenges of food self-sufficienty.
Hon. Keikurra Vandy from Bo District submitted his debate on electricity supply in the country and pleaded with the Government to fix the electricity supply hub.
On the improvement of agriculture, he advised that, tools and seeds be supplied to farmers in time for purposes of agricultural productivity.
Hon. Mariama M. Zombo from Pujuhun District appreciated the Ministry of Finance for making financial access to women as well as cash transfer in the process of empowering women.
On the vote relating to the school feeding, the Honourable Member commended the process and advocated for more allocations. “Each district deserved the school feeding programme”, she concluded.
Hon. Mustapha Sellu from Moyamba District requested the Minister of Finance to clarify to certain MDAs that were approved in the 2023 original budget, for which allocations have also been made in the 2023 supplementary budget.
Hon. Yusuf Mackery from Bo District requested the Finance Minister to lay more premium on the supply of pipe borne water and road developments.
Hon. Abu Kemokai from Purjehun District said the environment must be protected and advocated for budgetary allocation to Environmental Protection Agency, for the safety and protection of the environment for development purposes.
The Acting Leader of the Opposition, Hon.Mohamed Bangura thanked the Ministry of Finance for presenting the supplementary budget to Parliament and went to ask the Finance Minister to clarify why the Peace Commission is absent in the supplementary budget.
He called on the Minister to allocate more resources to the newly established Ministries, Departments and Agencies for their effective functioning.
He said the supplementary budget is good for the nation.
Concluding the debate, the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma said the Minister of Finance is very honest in presenting the supplementary budget to Parliament in order to address the needs for development and economic transformations of the nation. The Leader of the House reaffirmed the speech made by the Minister on fiscal management and other related economic projections of the country’s economy.
On revenue mobilization, the Leader of the House admired the mechanisms that have been put in place by Finance Ministry and its implementing agencies to collect taxes and underscored the importance of fiscal discipline and efficient and effective management of the country’s economy.
He also requested the Minister to clarify why government is subsidizing for electricity and went on to raise several concerns and seeking clarifications on how the economic situations should be improved for the benefit of the government and the people of Sierra Leone.
@Parliamentary and Public Relations Department
