MDAs Spending Request Beyond Allocations Will Be Rejected …Says Finance Minister

Effective 1st January 2025, the Ministry of Finance will not accept any request that is made by Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for additional allocations after their spending has been approved by Parliament.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura in the Well of Parliament during his presentation of the Government Budget and statement of economic and financial policies for the year 2025.
“Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members, as Government continues to consolidate our fiscal and monetary policy gains over the years, it is important for MDAs to adhere to the Appropriation Bill approved by this Noble House,” the Minister stated.
The Minister maintained that when actual budget outcomes significantly vary from the approved budget, it brings considerable challenges to budget execution and undermines budget credibility.
He furthered that to ensure the Budget approved by the House of Parliament is effectively implemented, Cabinet has approved a Ministerial Directive on Expenditure Management and Control which stipulates that, with effect from 1st January 2025:
Budgetary Agencies should refrain from making commitments that exceed their approved annual and multi-annual budgets; and that Budgetary Agencies should fully adhere to Sections 55 (1) and (2), 56 (1) – (7), and 60 (1) and (2) of the PFM Act, 2016 and Sections 25 to 30 of the PFM Regulations, 2018, when executing their approved annual budget.
“Consequently, on the basis of this Ministerial Directive approved by Cabinet, the Ministry of Finance will reject spending requests from MDAs that are beyond their allocations approved by Parliament,” the Minister stated.