The Information Deficit
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EDITORIAL
The government of president Rayale is eager to have its budget bill approved by the House of Representatives as soon as possible.
Undeterred by revelations that it has been misleading the public and the parliament about the true size of its revenues, the government wants to escape being held accountable to its long trail of gross financial mismanagement practices. Claiming that the government will be shut if the budget is not released by the House, the executive has been urging the public to pressure the lawmakers into an early passage of its bill. However the public has so far remained unsympathetic toward the government’s unenviable position.
The parliament should not only scrutinize the budget but also has to find out whether the size of the revenue budget submitted is sufficiently realistic. It is highly probable that this country has been generating at least 5 times more than the $18 million dollars that the government used to submit to parliament as the estimated revenue budget annually. The parliament has an obligation to probe into the wide-spread corruption practiced by senior government officials. It must promote legislations that address the loopholes that allow the executive abuse public funds.
Somalilanders still can’t figure out the amount of salary drawn by each of president Rayale and his vice-president or the number of personnel serving in the security sector. Somalilanders have every right to know about what has been happening within the ministry of Minerals and Water Resources. The ministry should disclose all the facts to the public with regard to its dealings in the oil sector.
Again the parliament must take a prompt interest in this issue. It is essential that the agreements and contracts signed are reviewed by the House to ensure that the country’s economic interests are protected and the executive is held accountable for the impact of its actions.
Source: Somaliland Times
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