By Binta Jaiteh
The National Assembly has approved a sum of D2, 845, 000, 000, 00 supplementary estimates 2020 for government on Wednesday opposed to previous sum of D3, 386,250,000.00 submitted.
NAM for Upper Saloum, Alagie Mbowe cited section 153 of the Constitution, saying “which states subject to section 154 ‘if in respects of any financial year, it is found that the amount appropriated under the Appropriated Act is insufficient or that a need has arisen for a purpose for which no amount has been appropriated by that act a supplementary estimate showing the sums required shall be laid before the National Assembly before the expenditure has been incurred.”
He said that his committee conducted a review, and invited the Minister of Finance and other Ministers to clarify issues pertaining to the supplementary estimates. He continued that his committee is of the view that the supplementary estimates are meant to cater for Covid-19 and other related activities, including salaries of some public enterprise and local councils that are in areas of salaries due to the pandemic.
According to him, his committee considered items deleted from the supplementary estimates: Humanitarian relief D845, 000,000.00, Procurement of medical equipment D500, 000.00, Construction of mausoleum D15, 000,000.00
“The committee argued that since the sums for humanitarian relief and procurement of medical equipment and supplies were already spent it should be removed as it against section 153 of the constitution. Similarly, the committee also recommends that the cost for the construction of the mausoleum be deleted and deferred to the 2021 budget.”
New items proposed and or increased: Ministry of health D250,000,00, Financial reporting oversight board D11,519,000.00, Rural and urban roads (increased) D300,000.00, Support to councils (Salaries) D46,772,841.25.
The committee in their proposal therefore attached appendix to see. And having thoroughly scrutinized and revised the supplementary estimates as indicated in the appendix 1, recommend approval of the revised sum of D2, 845, 000, 000, 00, as opposed to the original sum of D3,386,250,000.00.