The government estimated the 2025 budget at D52.9 billion for the provision of essential services. The tabling of the draft budget was delayed at the instance of the government but the Finance minister gave reasons for the delay and he apologised.
The explanation came on the heels of the minority leader and member for Brikama North, Hon. Alhagie S. Darbo’s Point of Order that the Finance Minister failed to table the 2025 Budget according to law.
In his argument, Hon Darbo highlighted that provision 152 (1) of the 1997 Constitution requires the President to cause the Finance Minister to table the Budget at least 60 days before the end of year but this was not done.
The minister explained that part of the programme conditions of the IMF is that they needed to agree with a budget that would be consistent with the fiscal framework. “And we could not unilaterally prepare a budget without coming to terms with the framework,” he added.
The discussion, he said “is what delayed the completion of the budget in-country while they were here in October. We sought advice and guidance, and the objective was the government has certain emphasis we wanted to do, and to be transparent with this august Assembly, as it is already reflected in the budget, we wanted to do a salary review. And I think it was the request of this august Assembly that salary reviews should be part of the 2025 budget,” he underscored.
“Salary review had to go through a lot of isolations, and on that discourse some span more than three to four weeks. It was only during the annual meeting of the IMF and World Bank that the budget negotiations were concluded, and as a result, we confirmed and we reached out a budget which was mutually agreeable to both parties.”
After a heated argument between members, the Speaker, Hon Fabakary Tombong Jatta, ruled for an apology and warned the Finance Minister not to repeat the delay in 2026.
He stated that “on a closer look at Section 152 (1) of the Constitution as amended, it directs the President, through the Ministry of Finance, and Economic Affairs (MoFEA), to lay the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure of The Gambia. It does not direct the National Assembly or specify any legal consequence for the failure of the executive in meeting the deadline. In other words, it does not mandate us to reject the tabling of estimates if it is brought out of time.”
“In fact, the National Assembly’s duty is embedded in Section 152(1A) which is to give consideration to the estimates once tabled within the time frame provided for by the constitution, i.e. 30 days (as amended),” the Speaker added.
“Under these circumstances, we cannot rewind the hands of time to consider the estimates at the required time. Seeing that the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure is a critical instrument in the operation of the affairs of the state for the next fiscal year, I would indulge the understanding of this august Assembly to allow the Hon. Minister proceed with the tabling of the estimates. However, before doing so I would instruct the Hon. Minister tender his sincere apologies without any explanation to this August Assembly on the failure on his part to meet the required deadline.”
The Finance Minister obeyed and apologised to the lawmakers and promised to not repeat the delay to lay the budget in subsequent years and proceeded to lay the draft budget.
