PARCEM deplores Burundi government delay in submitting budget bill

Faustin Ndikumana appeals to parliamentarians to urge the government to submit promptly the execution of the third 2016 quarterly budget report

The local NGO aiming at awakening conscience and changing Burundians’ mentality (PARCEM) deplores Burundi government’s delay in sending the budget bill for 2017 to the parliament.”It is through the budget law that we really see the orientation of political development, economic strategies and decisions taken by the government in the country’s development and improvement of people’s lives,”says Faustin Ndikumana, the chairman of PARCEM.

For him, it is abnormal that the finance bill is always introduced late to the Burundian parliament. Consequently, the latter will not have enough time to thoroughly discuss the issues contained in the bill.

“Unfortunately, this has become a habit that needs to change because state budgets are supposed to be like an implementation process of public policy that ultimately extends over a long period, “deplores Ndikumana.

It is unusual that the government has not yet submitted the regular budget reports of 2016. According to him, the law says that every three months, the government through the Finance Ministry must produce a regular budget report for providing people with relevant information related to the debt situation, public accounts, possible support and strategies that the government has adopted to fill some financial gaps.

Furthermore, the law says that the draft regulation related to the 2016 financial year must be ready eight months before the next budgetary year. “This means it should be ready in August. This also helps to outline the problems, abnormalities or differences related to the implementation of the 2016 annual budget and allows the parliament and analysts to get necessary information for future improvement, “says the chairman of PARCEM.

“This is why the Government should inform us regularly about the current macro-economic context because the budget law is adopted in a specific macroeconomic context. Social partners such as taxpayers, civil society, and trade unions should be consulted and informed on what the government is doing, “says Ndikumana.

The chairman of PARCEM appeals to parliamentarians to urge the government to submit promptly the execution of the third 2016 quarterly budget report, analyze the 2016 draft regulation and provide all the necessary information for planning the next budget.