In the same vein, the president
instructed Permanent Secretaries (PSs) to save money allocated for other
charges (OCs) in a cost-cutting strategy aimed at channelling more
funds for implementation of development projects.
“As you are aware, in the forthcoming
financial year we have allocated 40 per cent of the total budget for
development projects, up from between 26 and 27 per cent in previous
years.
“We should thus save funds allocated for
other charges and inject the same in development projects,” Dr Magufuli
said in Dar es Salaam after receiving the dummy cheque from Deputy
Speaker, Dr Tulia Ackson and Clerk of the National Assembly, Dr Thomas
Kashililah.
He directed the Chief Secretary (CS),
Ambassador John Kijazi, to communicate the instruction to all PSs. “I am
told there are some ministers and permanent secretaries who are opposed
to the move by the government to slash funds for OCs in the next fiscal
year; those who feel the decision is wrong should quit,” he warned.
Dr Magufuli noted with concern that OCs
has been an area where dishonest public officials have been using to
swindle funds. “I applaud the Parliament for making this patriotic move.
The savings will help address shortage
of desks. For the 20 years I worked as cabinet minister I have never
seen any official making such a move.
“There are cases where the allocated
money is more than enough but these officials will make sure that they
spend the funds anyhow whether in carrying out reasonable or unjustified
activities,” he noted.
Dr Magufuli stressed that it is high
time Tanzanians stopped complaining when denied financial assistance by
development partners and instead work hard to raise funds locally.
“We should work for the interests of
majority Tanzanians who are poor rather than few thieving individuals.
It is a sacrifice we ought to make for our people,” he maintained.
He added: “For instance, if one desk
cost a maximum of 50,000 we could produce 120,000 desks and each
constituency will be provided with 600 desks. If we can save for one
year then we will solve the shortage once and for all.”
The president advised that the Tanzania
Prisons Department and the National Service (JKT) should be given the
job to produce the desks.
In December, last year, Dr Magufuli
directed Parliament to slash 225m/- it had allocated for a party to
welcome parliamentarians to between 10m/- and 20m/- and channel the
saved funds to purchase of bed for the Muhimbili National Hospital
(MNH).
During the current financial year, a
total of 127.3bn/- was allocated for the Parliament, Dr Kashililah
stated, noting that the amount did not include 7.2bn/- to pay salaries
and allowances for new 36 parliamentarians, in addition to debts
amounting to 5.6bn/-.
During the same period, a total of
72bn/- was allocated for the august House as OCs but cost-cutting
measures enabled it to save the 6bn/-.
“We did an assessment of the budget in
December, last year and the same was presented to Speaker Job Ndugai who
directed that the saved funds should be used to help curb shortage of
desks at schools,” Dr Kashililah stated.
Among others, the Parliament was able to
cut cost by doing away with foreign travels and trainings,
accommodation in hotels as well as funds allocated for food,
refreshments and stationeries.
During the occasion at the State House
yesterday, Dr Magufuli also received performance reports from the
Director General of the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau
(PCCB), Commissioner Valentino Mlowola, covering the fiscal year
2014/2015.
Mr Mlowola pledged to intensify the war
against graft through provision of public awareness as well as arresting
and charging culprits.
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