Financial strengthening of democratic institutions

(Parliamentary News) May 25, 2021 Addis Ababa: - House of Peoples' Representatives Standing Committee on Revenue, Budget and Finance discussed the 2021/22 budget inquiry with democratic institutions. The Committee said the democratic institutions need to be strengthened with budget to prevent crises in the country.

There are four democratic institutions that have submitted a budget request to the Ministry of Finance for the next fiscal year. The Standing Committee recognizes that they plan to improve their internal organizational structure in the next fiscal year.

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission has requested 211.6 million birr for the 2014 budget, while the budget approved by the Ministry of Finance is 103 million birr. The Federal Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission requested 300 million 815 thousand birr and 109 million 587 thousand birr was approved.

The Secretariat of the House of Peoples' Representatives requested 442 million 194 thousand birr and 337 million 863 thousand birr was approved. Regarding the capital budget, The Secretariat requested 174 million 500 thousand birr and approved 59 million birr.

The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has received a budget ceiling of 92 million 551 thousand birr, while the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) ombudsman has received a budget ceiling of 85 million birr. The total budget of the ombudsman has shown a 16 per cent increment compared to the budget approved in the last fiscal year.

According to Ato Teferi Demeke, Budget Adviser to the Ministry of Finance, the FDRE Ombudsman has taken into account the current situation of the country and has requested a budget plan accordingly. He urged the remaining three institutions to reconsider as they have made exaggerated budget requests and to provide adequate documentation and explanation if there is any work that requires more than the budget allocated.

Ato Teferi added that institutions should carry out their work efficiently and budgeting, taking into account the country's economic potential.

The Chairperson of the House of Peoples 'Representatives' Standing Committee on Revenue, Budget and Finance, Honorable Yayesh Tesfahunegne, on her part, said democratic institutions have a great role to play in alleviating the crisis in the country. She indicated that the budgeting process would be reviewed on the next discussion.

By Yared Eshetu