At launch of state budget in Maroua: MINFI boss says gov’t pursuing inclusive growth, competitiveness.

Minister Motaze made the declaration in Maroua, Far North Region, yesterday, while launching the 2024 State budget. 

Addressing stakeholders in the budget chain and other national actors, minister Motaze said, this year’s budget has been drawn to achieve advancement in all sectors of national life.

Such envisaged growth with benefits for the entire nation and citizenry, he said, is anchored on the National Development Strategy, SND30, of the government.

He indicated that, the population remains at the centre of the actions of   public authorities. Improving the living condition of the population through boosting energy and water supply, livestock production, constructing more roads, improving the business climate and rebuilding the crises-hit North West, South West and Far North regions, he said, are among government priorities.

Describing the budget as being that of socio-economic impact, the MINFI boss said, in line with instructions of hierarchy, there is need for unity from all actors and the population for Cameroon to fully maximize its plans for the current fiscal year.

He told stakeholders that, the execution of the budget is in a context of recovery especially in the Far North Regions wherein Boko Haram activities have been greatly reduced. 

Beyond that, the Minister said in a post-COVID-19 period and recent agreements with the International Monetary Fund, IMF, among others there is hope for growth.

The budget, he also said, seeks to discourage importation and a drive the consumption of locally made products. 

This, the member of government averred, is to further strengthen the Import-Substitution policy of the Head of State so as to achieve growth.

Government in 2024, he said, is working to tackle the rising cost of living and make life comfortable even for the most vulnerable in society. He talked of the intensification of activities to revive the economy of the country for the good of all.

If economic activities must be revived on a national scale, the Minister said competitiveness, must be stepped up, inflation reduced, most vulnerable sectors of the population taken care of, among other measures.

The minister lauded the efforts of regional and local administrators as well as mayors to ensure the population benefits from government policies. 

2024, he said, there is no reason for anyone in the entire chain to relent. The minister called for support from all actors to ensure the optimal execution of the 2024 state budget.

“Placed under the theme: ‘Budget of socio-economic impact’, this budget which is in the pursuance of the implementation of the politics of economic, social and cultural development of the nation through the National Development Strategy, SND30 calls for economic dynamism and inclusive growth,” the minister remarked.

Government, he said, will not relent in ensuring competitiveness and boosting productivity.

Decentralisation, disarmament, reconstruction

Other important aspects the minister brought to the attention of stakeholders is the commitment of government to enhance decentralisation, the disarmament program of the Head of State and rebuilding troubled regions.

The minister disclosed that, government has transferred over 555 billion FCFA to regional and local authorities. With the increase in resources transferred to councils, he said it is easier for roads and other social services to the be handled.

For the North West, South West and Far North Regions, Motaze declared the intention of the State to keep the reconstruction agenda of the administrative units alive.

Call for discipline

Despite talking positive about the outlook of the country for 2024, the Minister of Finance sent a strong message to vote holders, state engineers and special authorising officers among others, calling for extreme discipline. 

He called for those charged especially in the award and follow up of contracts to work with their consciences and put the interest of the country first.

“You have the responsibility to follow up the execution of works or services engaged to the end,” the MINFI boss declared. 

He ordered them to from next week start awarding contracts for economic operators to start tendering to do execute them on record time.

 In the same light, he advised representatives of the Ministry of Finance nationwide to master the 2024 Finance Law. 

He enjoined them to play the role of sensitisation to keep the public aware of novelties in the law and clear any iota of doubt and ambiguity.  This, the minister said, will play a key role in the efficient execution of the State budget.

Appeal to economic operators 

The minister identified economic operators as key actors in the budget execution chain. He underscored the need for them to pay taxes and respect the rules in force while bidding for contracts. 

Government, he assured, remains open for a win-win partnership with economic operators to ameliorate the wellbeing of Cameroonians. 

2024 State Budget

A MINFI staff, Augusta Arrey Tabeyang, on behalf of the Director General of the Budget said, the 2024 State Budget is balanced in income and expenditure at 6,740,1 billion FCFA. This, she said, represents an increase of 13,2 billion FCFA compared to that of 2023.