By Sorie Ibrahim Fofanah
The newly appointed Chief Minister, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, has said that each and every ministry now has a responsibility to raise at least one million dollars per year in order to increase budget mobilization.
The Chief Minister said this decision was deliberated in a cabinet meeting that lasted for about an hour, after prior discussions with the secretary to the president and the cabinet secretary, by extension consulting the President and Vice President respectively on the said issue.
In the just concluded two-day retreat at Bintumani Conference hall for ministers, deputies ministers, directors, commissioners, and civil as well as public servants, Dr. Sengeh said they, as ministers have set the minimum target for ministries to generate funds to be able to support the Government throughout the remainder of its tenure.
As a means to increase the basket for resource mobilization, Sengeh said there is a need to introduce this minimum collection of one million dollars ($ 1 million) each year per ministry, adding that ministries before now were not having such a responsibility.
Aside from budget allocations to the various ministries, the minister said they also have the responsibility to raise ‘’minimum’’ funds from their various ministries to support government activities.
He said this can be achieved by lobbying for grants, forming partnerships, organizing programs, etc.
For ministries, like Social Welfare, that find it challenging to generate revenue, Sengeh said that was why they deemed it necessary in their cabinet meeting to limit the revenue mobilization for ministries to one million dollars ($ 1 million), encouraging every ministry to work towards the set goal.
“This is being matched with commitment,’’ the Chief Minister said. He added that while engaging with his colleague ministers he saw the urgency and commitment in them.
Prior to his appointment as Chief Minister, Sengeh served as the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Schools for four years in the last government of President Julius Maada Bio during which he introduced innovative strides such as eLearning porters and easy access to public examination results.
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