2011-2012 Budget Hits Over U.S.$400,000,000

The Informer (Monrovia)

2 May 2011

The Cabinet has held its final review of the 2011-2012 National Budget estimated at over 400-million, with President Sirleaf calling for a cut in non-essential areas.

According to Dr. Momo Rogers, Director-General of the Cabinet, discussion of the Budget lasted for over three hours last Thursday during a Special Cabinet Meeting held in the Cabinet Room at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Director-General said the proposed Budget estimate (expected to have been submitted to the National Legislature Saturday) specifically targeted critical growth sectors that need more funds for development such as education, health, jobs creation, roads, ports, energy, and security.

He noted that the greater portion of allotments to these sectors went to education for the expansion of school facilities around the country in order to improve the quality of educational infrastructure and services.

Reviewing other sections of the Budget, the President urged the National Budget Committee to cut down allotments in some other items, such as foreign travels, in order to increase funding of more critical areas such as salaries for civil servants, security personnel and teachers.

The country’s budget has been gradually increasing since the government of President Sirleaf took office in 2006 – when the national budget stood at just US$80milion.

In the last five years the budget has swelled to US$380 million (2010-2011), raising civil servants; minimal wage from US$15 to US$80.

In another matter, the Cabinet discussed the vacancy at the General Auditing Commission (GAC) as reported by the Civil Service Agency. To dispel any public misperception about the non-renewal of the Auditor General’s contract, the President noted that Mr. John S. Morlu’s removal does not in any way weaken the Government’s resolve to fight corruption.

She therefore directed the Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs to engage USAID for an arrangement with an American firm that would receive and vet all applicants for the post of Auditor General in keeping with international best practices for transparency.

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