The government is seeking parliamentary approval to condone more than US$9.6 billion in unauthorised expenditure incurred by the Ministry of Finance between 2015 and 2018, according to the Financial Adjustments (No. 2) Bill, 2026.
The Bill seeks approval for expenditure that exceeded amounts appropriated by Parliament or was incurred for purposes for which no money had been allocated.
The largest amount relates to 2017, when the ministry incurred US$4.56 billion in unauthorised expenditure, followed by US$3.56 billion in 2018.
The Bill lists US$1.49 billion for 2016 and US$25.3 million for 2015.
Combined, the four amounts total approximately US$9.64 billion.
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The Bill’s memorandum explains that Section 307 of the Constitution requires the Minister of Finance to introduce legislation seeking approval for unauthorised expenditure.
It states: “If a Government Ministry or Department spends money in any financial year in excess of the amount appropriated, or for a purpose for which nothing was appropriated, the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion is required in terms of section 307 of the Constitution to cause a Bill condoning the unauthorised expenditure to be introduced in the National Assembly.”
The memorandum adds that the Bill must be introduced “no later than sixty days after the extent of the unauthorised expenditure has been established”.
The proposed legislation seeks condonation for the expenditure incurred by the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion during the four financial years.
Clause 4 of the Bill specifically seeks to condone US$4,562,064,124 incurred in the year ended December 31, 2017, while Clause 5 covers US$3,560,343,130 for the year ended December 31, 2018.
The Bill states that the expenditure “in excess of that which was appropriated” or for which no money was appropriated “is condoned”.
The legislation is presented by the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion and is titled the Financial Adjustments (No. 2) Bill, 2026.
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