2018 state budget:

32 billion allocated for SW region

By Boris Esono in Buea

Budget stakeholders pose with SW governor after budget launching ceremony

The sum of over 32 billion FCFA has been allocated for the SW region as its own share of the national cake in 2018. The figure was revealed during the launching of the 2018 state budget for the SW region, at the Buea City Hall recently.

                Presenting the budget to the Governor and other stakeholders present, it emerged that of the over 32 billion package allocated for the region, over FCFA 9.8 billion was set aside for Public Investment Projects.

                According to the representative from the Ministry of Finance to the launching ceremony, Njie Thomas Kinge, the 2018 budget prioritizes four major aspects of execution notably the completion of the three-year emergency plan; preparations for the 2019 AFCON; pursuit of President Biya’s Special Youth Plan among others.

                The Finance Controller for the SW region, on her part, urged stakeholders to ensure budgetary discipline and revenue collectors to redouble efforts towards better results.

                “Given the prevailing circumstances in the region, we must put more emphasis on revenue collection because we must collect enough money if we should be able to raise the over 32 billion to finance all the budgetary heads listed in the state budget,” she said.

                Presiding over the launching, the governor of the SW region, Okalia Bilai, noted that the 79.5% execution last year was not good enough. He therefore encouraged stakeholders to work towards improving on the execution rate in 2018.