Al-Sudani: The absence of a budget was one of the main obstacles to implementing the government’s program

Al-Sudani: The absence of a budget was one of the main obstacles to implementing the government’s program

2023-06-11 04:53

Shafaq News/ The Prime Minister, Muhammad Shia’a Al-Sudani, considered, on Sunday, that the federal budget has not yet been approved, as one of the main reasons that prevented the implementation of the government program.

Al-Sudani’s media office stated, in a statement received by Shafaq News agency, that the latter chaired this morning an emergency session dedicated to discussing the semi-annual report, on evaluating the government program implemented by ministries and agencies not associated with a ministry.

Al-Sudani stressed the importance of the government program, which translated what was stated in the ministerial curriculum, and was voted on by the Council of Ministers, and the government’s keenness to abide by its implementation.

The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of the ministers and all the staff and associates who contributed to the implementation of their ministries’ program, as well as the government program team that made great efforts and worked to develop scientific mechanisms for evaluation.

Al-Sudani referred to the difficulties faced by the ministries in implementing the program, foremost of which was the absence of a budget that provides a legal space for work, as well as the necessary financial allocations for the implementation of projects and programs included in the government program.

The emergency session witnessed a discussion of the report on evaluating the performance level of ministries in implementing their obligations towards the government program, to enhance strengths, point out weaknesses and imbalances, and develop mechanisms to correct them.

Al-Sudani directed that the five priorities be the basis for the government’s work, and make it a goal along with other goals, and the targets must be clear in light of these priorities, stressing the need to implement reforms in all ministries in a manner that supports the implementation of these priorities.

He called for examining the joints of the imbalance and diagnosing the centers of corruption in each ministry so that it could be dealt with firmly, and the continuation of structural reforms, the simplification of procedures and the overcoming of red tape.

He also asked the ministers to give priority to supporting the private sector, and to continue holding meetings with it, in order to produce results that support the executive program of the ministries and achieve a difference in performance.

Al-Sudani said during the emergency session, “The government’s commitment to implementing its program is an important part of its credibility before the people and their representatives in Parliament, and the government program is a scientific plan to implement the government’s goals according to the priorities that have been approved.”

“We appreciate the difficulties that the ministries faced during the past six months, due to the lack of a budget,” he added.

Al-Sudani pointed out that “the absence of the budget was one of the most prominent obstacles that prevented the implementation of some of the items and objectives that were approved in the government program.”

He continued, “We have supported the ministries during the past period, in order to provide service and implement priorities within the available capabilities, which exist and enable each ministry or sectoral entity to present an achiever that makes a difference in performance.”

He stressed that “the report, which includes everything sent by the ministries, will be prepared, to be sent to the House of Representatives and then presented to the public.”

Al-Sudani considered that “it is not important to establish a high success rate, as much as it is important to establish a real achievement rate, because this will contribute to establishing the required credibility between the government and the people.”

And he stressed not to “repeat previous mistakes that gave high achievement rates, and were highlighted in the media, while the citizen did not find them tangible on the ground.”

He explained, “We will announce what has actually been achieved. If the achievement is 50%, we write it as it is. The important thing is that the percentage expresses what has been achieved during the past six months.”

“The government team was formed last November 8, and it conducted 518 addresses, 85 meetings, and 12 training workshops,” Al-Sudani said.

And the Prime Minister stated, “We emphasized in most of the sessions on sending data and communicating with the team, because what was presented today is the summary of the work of the past period.”

He pointed out that there were sub-teams in the ministries to formulate the program, starting with each ministry.

He pointed out, “The cabinet issued a decision approving the government program on December 12, 2022, and the team committed to preparing the semi-annual report on the scheduled date in June 2023, and we will write a summary of the final report to be approved in a later session next week.”

Al-Sudani directed that the data be updated and that the follow-up team complete the report, in order to schedule a second session for its approval.

shafaq.com