Cabinet Secretariat has submitted a substantial request of 15.530 billion Old Leones to the Ministry of Finance for approval at the ongoing bilateral budget discussions for the 2024 fiscal year.

The current budget ceiling allocated to the Cabinet Secretariat stands at approximately 4.26 billion Old Leones, leaving an excess over the ceiling of approximately 11.26 billion Old Leones.

During his presentation, Patrick M. Sama, Assistant to the Secretary to the Cabinet, explained that in the previous year, they had requested around 10 billion Old Leones, but only about 3 billion was approved by the Ministry of Finance for the day-to-day functioning of the Secretariat. He emphasized that their budgets in recent years have not been sufficient, affecting the efficiency of their office.

Sama stressed that the Cabinet Secretariat plays a crucial role as a state institution with a unique constitutional mandate to support the decision-making function of the Cabinet. Adequate funding is essential to help them achieve their established goals.

He said despite the financial constraints faced by his office in the past year, the Secretariat managed to achieve several key milestones. These accomplishments include providing support services for cabinet meetings, electronically archiving cabinet records and documentation, and acquiring land for the construction of a public service academic institution. Additionally, compliance with performance management among senior civil servants in grades 11 and above has increased by 23% due to enforced regulations.

However, Sama further highlighted several challenges, including inadequate and delayed disbursement of funds, insufficient logistics, and the unavailability of officers for performance contract signing and appraisals within stipulated time frames.

In response to the Cabinet Secretariat’s presentation, Taslima Jah, the Director of National Budget at the Ministry of Finance, expressed reservations about the requested budget for 2024, calling it unrealistic. He suggested that the Secretariat should have based their estimation on their previous budget allocation.

Chairing the session, Deputy Minister of Finance Bockarie A. Kalokoh called for greater transparency and collaboration in the budgeting process, acknowledging that the national budget is scheduled to be read on November 10th, 2023. He recognized the young cabinet in Sierra Leone and emphasized the need for effective training and monitoring.

As a Ministry, Kalokoh pledged to look into the concerns presented by the Cabinet Secretariat, indicating a commitment to finding a resolution that aligns with the nation’s fiscal priorities.