MPs extend time for scrutiny of 2025/26 budget policy statement by14 days
The extension, 14 days for the BPS and 10 days for the Debt Management Strategy, was necessitated by the lapse in the committee’s term, which delayed its reconstitution.
The National Assembly has extended the deadline for reviewing the 2025/26 Budget Policy Statement (BPS) and the Debt Management Strategy due to delays in reconstituting the Budget and Appropriations Committee.
The extension, 14 days for the BPS and 10 days for the Debt Management Strategy was necessitated by the lapse in the committee’s term, which delayed its reconstitution.
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The decision was made through two procedural motions tabled by Majority Party Whip Sylvanus Osoro, who emphasised the importance of the budget-making process.
“The budget-making process is one of the key critical functions of this House. It really requires the complete active participation of all the Members of this House,” he said.
The Budget and Appropriations Committee (BAC), mandated under Article 221 of the Constitution, Section 39(2) of the Public Finance Management Act, and Standing Order 235(5), is responsible for reviewing the national budget.
Standing Order 232(7) stipulates that the committee must table its report within 14 days of receiving the BPS from the National Treasury. However, due to the delays, the House approved an extension of 14 days, effective from February 27, 2025.
Similarly, Standing Order 232A(4) sets the timeline for reviewing the Debt Management Strategy. Given the delay, the House extended its consideration by 10 days, starting from February 24, 2025.
Osoro justified the extensions, stating, “These procedural motions therefore seek to extend the statutory timelines needed to complete the processes.”
The decision ensures that both the BPS and the Debt Management Strategy undergo thorough scrutiny despite the initial setbacks in committee reconstitution.
The BPS and the Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy (MTDMS) were tabled in the National Assembly on February 13, 2025. However, several key committees, including the BAC and the Public Debt and Privatisation Committee, have yet to be reconstituted following the expiry of their terms.
In total, 18 committees require reinstatement to ensure the smooth functioning of House business.
Due to the delays, Speaker Moses Wetang’ula directed that the BPS be handled by the Liaison Committee, which comprises all House committee chairs except those led by the Speaker.
However, the decision has raised questions, as parliamentary procedures dictate that departmental committees submit their recommendations to the BAC, which then compiles a report for the National Treasury.
The Public Debt and Privatisation Committee plays a particularly crucial role, as it is responsible for processing the MTDMS, which informs government borrowing and expenditure plans.
The delays in reconstituting committees have raised concerns about potential disruptions to the budget-making process, with fears that critical government expenditure plans could face unnecessary setbacks.
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