The Finance minister speaking in an interview with journalists after he was invited on Thursday by the National Assembly Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) to elaborate more light on the D700 million that have been taken from the national budget to make a quick response to covid-19.

“The most important is that the amount appropriated by the National Assembly is still respected and we have not done any extra-budgetary expenditure,” said Mambureh Njie.

He explained that, out of the 24 virements, 20 of them were all on travels,but currently there is a travel ban.

“So it was very clear indication that we can use those funds especially the intent; is all about the covid-19 related and we need to respond. We should be proud of ourselves that it is our money that we are using at this moment. We are accountable and we are doing it in the right way.”

The Finance minister further explained that the second virement is 100 percent coming from the savings they made from that debt adjournment.

“I said it’s very clear that we relied and guided by the Public Finance Act 2014 and the 1997 Constitution. The Public Finance was done after the 1997 constitution and it’s a delegated authority and what we have relied on is very clear on section 29 on the virement and the powers vested on the ministry and the minister in particular to reallocate funds,” he said

Source___The Point