Finance Minister James Marape met briefly with his Departmental staff to outline the priorities for this year. This meeting coincided with the opening of Government Accounts.
2018 will be an important year for the Finance Department, as it reforms its functions – with more focus on becoming an officer with Oversight functions – in an effort to monitor how Departments and Agencies expend their budgetary allocations.
Whilst Government Accounts have opened, Departments and Agencies are required to submit their Work Plans to Finance in order to access funding.
On a related note, Minister Marape has also announced a deadline for Expenditure reports from 2017. This is to account for funding which had been allocated last year.
This move, an effort to increase transparency and accountability within the public service March 31st Deadline for 2017 Expenditure reports.
These expenditure reports will form the basis of the Finance Department’s Public Account Reports, which the department is now working on, which when completed, will be presented to parliament. PAC Reports – will be open for scrutiny after tabled in Parliament
