Deputies at the National Assembly, last Monday, passed the Supplementary Appropriation Bill for the fiscal year 2008.

The bill authorized certain additional payments from the Consolidated Funds for the period 1st January 2008 to 31st December 2008. Presenting the bill before the NAMs, the secretary of state for Finance and Economic Affairs, Musa Gibril Balla Gaye, said that the disbursement rate for public funds for the fiscal year 2008 had been impressive, adding that although government had taken measures in 2008 to stabilize the price of rice and petroleum products, the measures have however not impacted positively on revenue mobilization.

Secretary Gaye revealed that current expenditures has now reached two billion, two hundred and forty-four million dalasis, of which personal emoluments is 405 million, goods and services, D889 million, subsidies and transfers, D450 million, which includes pensions and graduated capital expenditure, amounting to D334 million, and equity participation, D106 million.

"At the same time, government expenditures and arrears on short term loan payments registered 297 million. This has raised the total payments, as at 8th December 2008, to 2 billion D 963 million and the total amount spent, excluding pensions, is equivalent to 2 billion D905 million. Already over 90% of the proposed supplementary provision of 271 million has been utilized and therefore form part of the D2 billion 905 million" he said.

The Finance and Economic Affairs boss further stated that the total appropriation by the National Assembly is equivalent to D3 billion 143 million, adding that the proposed supplementary appropriation does not mean that the government will spend beyond the initial approved appropriation for 2008, but that ,that possibility may still exist.

Seconding the motion, Hon. Netty Baldeh, NAM for Tumana, said the bill manifests that government is open and ready to present to the Assembly details of its expenditure, and he therefore called on his colleagues to support the motion.

Momodou Sanneh, the minority leader and member for Kiang Central, raised concerned that since the fiscal year is coming to an end, why the need for a supplementary appropriation bill with such a huge amount. He called on the SoS to furnish the assembly with an explanation to that respect.

The majority leader and member for Serrekunda East, Fabakary Tombong Jatta, spoke at length on the importance of the bill. He said hardly a supplementary appropriation bill lands in the National Assembly. He then noted that it is true that the money involved is large, but that NAMs should focus on the factors that prompted the bill to be table before the house.

Sedia Jatta, NAM for Wuli west, raised the concern that some of the expenditures have been incurred without seeking the authority of the National Assembly.