By JOE GURINA
The Central Provincial Government has passed its 2021 budget at a tune of K272 million today.
This is the fourth annual provincial budget passed under the tenure of Governor Robert Agarobe.
The budget according to Agarobe is designed to capture his Smart Vision Policy of the Agarobe Manifesto that is contained in the new Integrated Provincial Development Plan 2019-2022.
Agarobe said that the budget framework is synonymous to the National Budget with the theme “Consolidation for Provincial Growth’’.
“Since this is the fourth consecutive budget under this tenure, our provincial government is maintaining its key focus, based on the theme Integrated Provincial Development Plan 2019-2022 “Our Identity and Destination Towards a Smart Sustainable Future”.
“One of the very first measures undertaken was a review of the provincial budget process in 2018. One significant finding is that previous budgets were figure – based only without a very clear and strong policy basis.
“Thus in 2018, new budget policy was introduced as part of the overall alignment of the policy and budget framework to the Smart Vision Policy whilst the 2019 provincial budget was structured in that context.
“The reformed policy continued in the 2020 provincial budget whereby the process was open consultative and inclusive of the provincial leaders and the provincial management team as opposed to the usual exclusive budget lockups by the provincial plan, budget & expenditure committee,’’Agarobe reiterated.
He said the provincial budget is smart because it integrates the budget policy initiatives undertaken by his government since 2018 and consolidating the growth arises as a result of the new policy direction under his Smart Vision Policy being implemented in the last three years and captured in this year’s budget again.
“This year’s budget of K272,722, 383.86 is dedicated to the greater consolidation of the provincial growth arises as a result of the existence of the Integrated Provincial Development Plan which underpins my Smart Vision Policy development pathway,’’ he said.