On Friday, 12 February 2021, the Minister responsible for Finance estimates Revenue and Expenditure to the National Assembly for the financial year 2021. The submission was made within the 90-day deadline set by Article 219 (1 ) of the Constitution.
Prior to 2015, the Estimates were submitted close to this deadline. Given the general debate that followed and the detailed consideration of the Estimates by the Delivery Committee, the Estimates were not finally approved until the end of April. Agencies therefore had an eight-month budget to implement a 12-month program, particularly in relation to capital expenditure. This practice largely explained the trend towards accelerating spending in the last quarter of the year to deplete budget allocations. In the circumstances all kinds of irregularities occurred, including a significant breach of the Procurement Act; overpayments to suppliers and contractors; defective work performed; short goods or services or lack of supply; drawing checks near the end of the year for procuring goods / services and carrying out work although full value has not been received; and failing to pay the unspent balances into the Consolidated Fund. This is not to suggest that these irregularities did not continue through the years 2015 to 2020.