Fed. Govt demands audit reports from regional administrations

The Federal Government is demanding an audit report from federal member states for the financial years 2017 and 2018, Goobjoog News has learnt even as state leaders maintain they don’t receive adequate funding from Mogadishu.

In a letter seen by Goobjoog News dated September 5, Finance Minister Abdirahman Beyleh asked the state governments to release their expenditure reports from 1/1/2018 to 30/6/18 and the financial period 2017.

The demand comes as regional leaders gather in Kismayu where they have raised concerns about funding from the Federal Government reiterating earlier accusations of inadequate support. In a similar meeting in May held in Baidoa, the regional leaders said they were not getting a share of international aid to the Federal Government. They asked donors to separate funds meant for the Federal Government from those meant for the Federal states.

According to the national budget estimates however, Federal Members States are allotted an average total of $17 million.

In the 2017 financial period, Banaadir Regional Administration which encompasses the capital Mogadishu received the highest budget vote of $6.5 million followed by Puntland with $4.7 million. Jubbaland was allocated $2.7 million while Galmudug and South West received an equal amount of $1.4 million.

HirShabelle which is the newest state got $750,000. The 2018 national budget saw changes in the allocation with an increase of about $4 million for Banaadir to stand at $10.7 million while Puntland’s was halved to $2.0 million. Jubbaland was allocated $1.1 million as South West got $2.8 million. Galmudug and HirShabelle each were allocated $2.8 million.

The state leaders are concluding their meeting Saturday and are expected to issue a joint communique.

GOOBJOOG NEWS