The Parliament of Sierra Leone has today, Thursday, 22 December 2022 approved over NLe13 billion as the National Budget for 2023.

The budget was presented before Parliament by the Minister of Finance, Dennis K.Vandi, on Friday, 11 December 2022, in the Chamber of Parliament, Tower Hill, Freetown, with the theme: ” Addressing The Needs of The Vulnerable in The Context of Multiple Crises”, with a view to authorizing expenditure for the services of Sierra Leone.

The Bill is seeking authorization of expenditure from the consolidated revenue fund for the services of Sierra Leone and to provide for other related matters.

The total budget approved for the fiscal year, 2023, is in tune of Thirteen Billion Seven Hundred and Forty-four Million, Two Hundred and Seven Thousand Leones (13,744,207,000).

The National Budget Bill went through several parliamentary stages and amendments before it was approved by the Parliament of Sierra Leone.

The Budget approved would be fully operationalized come 01 January 2023, and the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of Government are expected overtime to have full access to their total budgetary allocations approved by Parliament to implement their planned policies, programmes and activities for the overall development of the country.

However, several recommendations were made by the Chairpersons of the Committee of Supplies for additional budgetary allocations to MDAs in order for them to be able to fulfill their planned activities for the services of the nation.

Throughout the budget approval process, followed by presentations done by the Sub-appropriation Committees, no MDA’s budgets were withheld and they sailed through the approval process unscathed.

The Deputy Minister of Finance, Sheku Fantamadi Bangura piloted the 2023 National Budget before it was approved by Parliament.

In another development on Thursday 22 December 2022, the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma laid on the Table of Parliament, the Auditor General’s Report of 2021 on the accounts of the Republic of Sierra Leone. He graciously did it on behalf of the Presiding Officer, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, who is the Deputy Speaker of Sierra Leone Parliament and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee in Parliament.

Source: Parliamentary and Public Relations Department, Parliament of Sierra Leone