Minister Unveils 2013-2014 Draft Budget
The Eastern Equatoria State Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Sam Felix Makuja has presented a new budget ceiling for the 2013-2014 financial year to the State Council of Ministers in Torit, maintaining the austerity measures. 15 May 2013 The Eastern Equatoria State Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Sam Felix Makuja. [Peter Lokale Nakimangole] By Peter Lokale Nakimangole TORIT, 15 May 2013 [Gurtong] –The new financial year starts July 1st 2013 and runs until June 30th 2014. “I am presenting this Memo to this honourable Council as a matter of urgency. As we are aware, the new financial year is a month away, the National Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning has already presented the national budget ceiling to the national Council of Ministers and has already approved it,” the minister informed the cabinet. The new ceiling comes with a few increases as it moves from 2012/2013 State FY where its figure stood at 164,197,983 SSP to now new budget ceiling 168,899,898 SSP. The Minister Makuja has defended that the increase happens because social service delivery ministries have been considered to have their budgets added because their services are highly needed. He cited County Development Grants which is currently standing at 7,685,548 SSP but has now been increased to 15,931,657 SSP, the move he says honouring the wise words of late Dr. John Garang of taking towns to the people closer in rural areas. Makuja, who spoke to Gurtong this morning at his office in Torit, disclosed further that County operating transfers that has not been existing following adoption of the continuing austerity measure in the Country last year, has now been introduced at 5,245,990 SSP so to enable counties operate smoothly. He also revealed that his Ministry in consultation with the state top authority after considerably reflection has decided to propose additional general transfers from the national government which has been 46,771,048 SSP to 55,413,081 SSP. This he said has also resulted into increase in budget ceiling for the new Financial year which according to him will only last for six months to December 30th this year. The minister disclosed that President of the Salva Kiir Mayardit has said the ongoing austerity budget will continue to be maintained until the upcoming Financial Year. He disclosed that all the ten states of the Republic of South Sudan have been requested to present their drafts to their respective Council of Ministers accordingly and so they are also expected to have their budget ceilings be approved before the states’ annual budget workshop to be held in Juba commencing 21 May. The workshop that will bring all states stakeholders together will also discuss overall economic situation in the country for the year 2013/2014. Posted in: Home, Business, Governance -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
