Somali Parliament expected to decide on the 2022 budget today

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: The two houses of parliament are today expected to delve into the third reading of the country’s 2022 budget, after the 2nd reading was concluded on Wednesday.

FGS Finance Minister Abdirahman Duale Beyle addressed a joint sitting of the two houses of parliament over the past two days to respond to questions regarding the country’s financial system.

Lawmakers pressed the Finance Minister to expound on projects implemented in the country’s regions and the distribution system used during the four year period.

Minister Beyle was also hard-pressed to explain why his ministry had failed to conduct audits since 2018. However, he came to his own defense saying that his ministry had for the past four years, conducted audits without fail, even following the recommended process through to parliament.

The Minister insisted that parliament was to blame as it failed to approve the accounts during the COVID-19 period, citing pandemic regulations and other issues.

However, Upper House Speaker Abdi Hashi brushed off the claims saying neither the budget nor the accounts had been approved by parliament, adding that he wasn’t aware if they had been tabled in Parliament.

At the beginning of this week, Minister Beileh rebuffed summons by the Office of the Attorney General to answer to “crimes related to the country’s finances and economy”.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sheikh Aden Madobe, said a decision would be made today on the country’s budget which stands at nearly $1 billion {$ 918.7 million}, the highest budget ever for Somalia.