October 16, 2011 (SSNA) — Hon. Kosti Manibe Ngai, Minister of Finance & Economic Planning and Hon. Mary Jervase Yak, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning together with the senior staff from the Ministry met with all Undersecretaries and Accounting Officers of central government spending agencies to discuss key reforms including immediate implementation of monthly cash limits for agencies.
The 1st Undersecretary of Finance, Salvatore Garang Mabiordit explained that the reforms would allow agencies to better plan their expenditure, as well as giving them more power over the implementation of their budgets. It also allows for increased transparency in the way that payments are made by the government.
Other reforms to be implemented from 1st November designed to improve the efficiency of the Government include: payments being made directly to properly registered vendors rather than through government agencies, more rigorous controls over the signing of government contracts, clearing of arrears, and improved accountability procedures for petty cash expenditure.
The Minister opened the workshop by reminding attendees that there will always be excessive demands on our resources, and that the nation must choose a level of spending that minimises inflation and that ensures every South Sudan Pound is spent productively, efficiently and effectively for the benefit of South Sudan. He went on to describe how, in order to make the budget more effective, spending more efficient, and to allow savings, the Ministry would begin implementing reforms to give Agencies more control and predictability in budget execution.
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