Much-awaited CAG report for tabling in the House Friday

FAUSTINE KAPAMA in Dodoma

THE government will on Friday table to the National Assembly the much-awaited report of the Controller and Auditor General (CAG).

According to the timetable issued by the office of the National Assembly, the 2014/15 report would be tabled before Parliament by the Finance and Planning Minister, Dr Philip Mpango.

It shows that the government’s response to the issues exposed in the CAG report would be presented on the same day by the Minister of State in the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government), Mr George Simbachawene.

Presentation of such reports has in the past sparkled heated debate, leading to resignations or firing of government officials or heads of public institutions.

According to the timetable, before presentation of the budget estimates, four new Members of Parliament (MPs), Mr Shamsi Vuai Nahodha, Ms Ritha Kabati, Ms Lucy Owenya and Ms Oliver Semguruka, would be sworn-in by the Speaker of the National Assembly.

Thereafter, Dr Mpango will move a motion for the House to discuss for three days the Second Five-Year National Development Plan for five years – from 2016/2017 to 2020/2021.

After presentation of the National Development Plan, the National Assembly would receive and discuss implementations of budget estimates for 2015/2016 fiscal year from all ministries, to be followed by each ministry to table its new budget and expenditure for the 2016/2017 financial year.

The Prime Minister’s Office will take the lead on April 22, whose budget estimates would be discussed for three days to be followed by the President’s Office from April 28 to May 2.

Under the President’s Office, the Regional Administration and Local Government budget estimates would be discussed for three days, while that of the Public Service and Good Governance will be discussed for one day only.

The timetable shows that presentation of budget estimates for the ministries is expected to be concluded on June 2, to allow the government and Budget Committee to incorporate issues raised by MPs during discussion of budgets estimates of other ministries.

Such session would take six days, from June 3 to 8, before the finance minister takes the rostrum to present the main government budget on June 9.

The MPs are set to start discussing the main budget for seven days starting on June 13. Thereafter, there would be presentation and discussions of Finance and Appropriation Bills, 2016 starting June 21 while the Prime Minister is expected to adjourn the budget session on July 1.

During the budget sitting, ministers from all ministries would provide answers to about 465 basic questions that would be asked by MPs, while about 88 other questions would be answered by the Prime Minister in the on-the-spot question and answer session every Thursday.