International NGO urges parliament to have budget office

An international NGO has urged parliament to have a budget office which would drill parliamentarians on issues of finance to enhance accountability and transparency.

National Projects Officer for Action Aid Andrew Mpesi said the parliamentary budget office is a very important office in as far as issues of accountability and transparency on the national budget are concerned.

“The office would be responsible for all the documentation and information to members of parliament on budget issues. It should be a fully fledged office with a secretariat. This is the case in some countries,” said Mpesi.

He said the office would deepen the MPs understanding and knowledge of financial issues, how the government formulates and deals with the national budget, the bedrock of the country’s economy.

Leonard Mengezi, publicist for parliament said the office can only be created after changing the Financial public management law.

He said currently, as the law stands, Treasury is the authority in all matters concerning national budget.