By:Mohamed M. Sesay
The National Council for Civic Education and Development (NaCCED) together with the Ministry of Finance, has on Wednesday the 5th of April 2023, launched the 2023 Citizens Budget at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Finance.
Giving an overview of the 2023 Citizens Budget, the Chairman of the National Council for Civic Education and Development Kalilu Tutangi, said they have been producing the citizens budget from 2021, 2022 and now 2023. He added that the purpose of the citizen’s budget is to show the people how their monies are generated and how they are spent.
He continued that the people don’t really know or understand the crucible of how government generates the budget which is the more reason they thought it fit to be producing the citizens budget in order to break the information to the people. He commended the Ministry of Finance for providing the document which was translates into the 2023 citizen’s budget.
Senior Deputy Financial Secretary of the Ministry of Finance Samuel E.B Momoh, said over the years, they have been trying very hard to make the financial process very transparent. He added that the Minister of Finance presented the 2023 budget which was approved by the house of parliament. He added that the intended purpose of the citizen’s budget is to simplify the process for the understanding of the common man as to what are the recurrent and capital budget. He continued that the 2023 citizen’s budget is less enriched than the national budget itself. He said the need of the citizens budged is to incorporate civil society and the media in order to hold government accountable. He assured that government is committed to openness and accountability of the financial policies. He disclosed that they also had two weeks extensive budgetary bilateral discussion with the media and civil society organization which is a clear testament of transparency and accountability in the whole process.
He continued that the citizens budget provides key revenue measures and key expenditure measures. He stressed that the 2023 citizen’s budget is not owned by the Ministry of finance alone as it was developed by NaCCED through the support of other development partners.
“So, colleagues, we are here this morning to present to you the 2023 citizens budget for and response to further concerns”, he admonished.
Acting Director of National Budget Dr. Ilara Marah, Said the 2023 citizens budget is a summery guide to the National budget which gives in simple information on what services government intends to deliver. She noted that the National Budget also speaks to where the monies coming from and how the funds would be spent. It also anticipates how the economy is expected to improve. Dr. Marah said the 2023 budget is estimated to be 9.3 billion new Leones. She said the citizen’s budget is also geared towards improving on the medium income and Nation Development Plan, capital expenditure and the payment of salaries among others.
She reiterated that the budget contains expenditure and measures adding that, the Minister of Finance is committed to promoting transparency and accountability in the financial sector across the country. She concluded assuring that such financial discipline instituted by the Ministry of Finance, had improved on openness and accountability in the fiscal discipline of the country.
