Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
GOVERNMENT NOTICE NO. 848 Published on 2/10/2020
THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
CHAPTER 439
THE BUDGET ACT
[PRINCIPAL LEGISLATION]
REVISED EDITION 2020
incorporates all
the Budget Act, Chapter 439,
This Edition of
amendements made up to and including 30th June, 2020 and is printed
under the authority of section 4 of the Laws Revision Act, Chapter 4.
Dodoma,
19th September, 2020
ADELARDUS L. KILANGI
Attorney General
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Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
2
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
_______
CHAPTER 439
________
THE BUDGET ACT
[PRINCIPAL LEGISLATION]
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
PART I
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
Section Title
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Short title.
Application.
Interpretation.
PART II
MACRO-ECONOMIC AND FISCAL FRAMEWORK
Principles of fiscal policies and management.
Fiscal policy objectives.
Macro-economic and fiscal forecasts.
Coordination with National Development Plan.
PART III
MANAGEMENT OF BUDGET PROCESS
Responsibilities of National Assembly.
Parliamentary Budget Committee.
Powers and functions of Minister.
Responsibilities of Minister responsible for Planning.
Powers and functions of Permanent Secretary and Paymaster
General.
Powers and functions of Planning Commission.
Commissioner for Budget.
13.
14.
15. National Plan and Budget Guidelines Committee.
16.
Commissioner for Policy Analysis.
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Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
17.
18.
Powers and functions of Treasury Registrar.
Powers and functions of accounting officers.
PART IV
BUDGET PREPARATION AND APPROVAL PROCESS
Stages in budget process.
19.
20. National Development Plan.
21.
Plan and Budget Guidelines.
22.
Budget of public entities.
23.
Submission of budget estimates and related documents for
approval.
Submission of other budget documents to National Assembly.
Expenditure appropriation.
24.
25. National Assembly to consider budget estimates.
26. Approval of national budget by National Assembly.
27.
28. Where Appropriation Act is not yet in force.
29. Appropriations to lapse at end of financial year.
30. Duration of appropriations and warrants.
31.
Submission of budget policy highlights.
32.
Submission of Finance Bill.
33. Withholding of approval.
34. Government deviation from financial objectives.
35.
36. Minister to administer the Contingency Fund.
37. Advances from Contingency Fund.
38.
Sources of Contingency Fund.
Parliamentary approval for payments made from Contingency
Fund.
Financial statements in respect of Contingency Fund.
39.
40. Accruals and investments.
41.
42.
43.
Reallocation of funds.
Excess revenues.
Submission of supplementary budget.
PART V
BUDGET EXECUTION, MONITORING, EVALUATION
AND REPORTING
Commitment of approved budget.
44.
45. Authorities for expenditure.
46. Grants of credit.
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Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
47. Withdrawal from Consolidated Fund.
48. Disbursement of fund to National Assembly and the Judiciary
Fund.
49. Accountant-General’s Warrants.
50. Assumption of commitments.
51. Multi-annual commitments.
52.
Commitment control system.
53.
Report on expenditure commitments.
54. Development project contracts.
55.
56.
57. Quarterly statements of Government.
In-year reporting.
Compliance report.
PART VI
MANAGEMENT OF REVENUES
58.
59.
Principles for management of revenues.
Responsibility in revenue collection and management.
PART VII
OVERSIGHT OF PUBLIC ENTITIES AND
EXTRA BUDGETARY AGENCIES
60.
61.
62.
Budgetary and financial management of local government
authority.
Powers of Minister to waive tax, fees or charges.
Budgetary and financial management of extra-budgetary agencies.
PART VIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
63.
64.
65.
66.
Regulations, instructions and directions.
Extension of time.
Liability on failure to meet requirements of this Act.
Corrective measures against entities included in Government and
public entities.
Indemnity of public officers.
67.
68. Overriding effect of Act.
69.
Transitional provisions.
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Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
PART IX
[OMITTED: CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS)
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Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
_______
CHAPTER 439
_______
THE BUDGET ACT
An Act to provide for the effective and transparent regulation and
oversight of the national budget process, principles of fiscal
management, plan and budget guidelines, powers of the
National Assembly in relation to budget; to provide for
powers and functions of the Minister, Permanent Secretary,
Planning Commission and Commissioner for Budget in
relation to preparation and approval of the national budget
and expenditure appropriation; to provide for establishment
and administration of Contingent Fund, withdrawal from
Consolidated Fund, management of revenues, oversight of
subsections and public entities and to provide for other
related matters.
[ 1st July, 2015]
[s. 1]
Acts Nos.
11 of 2015
8 of 2017
1 of 2018
9 of 2018
PART I
PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS
Short title
1. This Act may be cited as the Budget Act.
Application
2. This Act shall apply to Mainland Tanzania.
Interpretation
3. In this Act, unless the context otherwise
Cap. 348
Cap. 348
requires-
“Accountant-General” has the meaning ascribed to it
under the Public Finance Act;
“accounting officer” has the meaning ascribed to it under
the Public Finance Act;
“appropriation” means an authorisation made by
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Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
Parliament under an appropriation Act allowing
payment to be made out of the consolidated Fund
or out of any other public fund established by any
written law under specific conditions or purpose;
“budget” means the annual estimates of the revenues and
other receipts the expenditures of the Government,
including estimates of the National Assembly
Judiciary, and grants to local authorities submitted
for the approval of Parliament;
“budget cycle” means series of activities and time frames
involved in the budget process from preparation,
approval, execution, monitoring and reporting;
“compliance report” means one of several reports
the
the National Assembly by
submitted
to
Minister under section 56;
''Consolidated Fund'' has the meaning ascribed to it in the
Constitution;
Cap. 2
“Constitution” means the Constitution of the United
Republic of Tanzania;
“extra budgetary agency” means an agency which operates
outside the government budget system;
"financial year" means, in relation to-
(a) the Government, a period of twelve months
ending on 30th June of each year;and
(b) a public authority or other body,
the period specified by or under the relevant
law or instrument relating to that authority or
body or as determined by the competent
authority of that authority or body;
“principles of fiscal responsibilities” means principles of
public finance provided for in the Public Finance
Act and those referred to under section 4 of this
Act;
“Government” means ministries,
ments,
regional secretariat,
authorities and public entities;
independent depart-
local government
“Minister” means the Minister responsible for finance;
"Money Bills" means the Finance Bill, the Appropriation
Bill or any other bill which is providing for
financial matters;
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Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
Cap. 348
“next financial year” means a period commencing on the
1st July of the next calendar year and ending on
30th June of the next following calendar year;
“Paymaster-General” means an officer who is vested with
powers to control the issue of public money to
accounting officers and who, in that capacity and
subject to the directions of the Minister, control the
issue of public moneys
to ministries and
departments of the Government, and perform such
other functions as the minister may by regulations
prescribe;
“Permanent Secretary” means the Permanent Secretary to
the Treasury;
“public entities” means public institutions
including
parastatals, government agencies, local govern-
ment authorities and public social security
schemes;
''public moneys'' include-
(a) the public revenues of the United Republic;
and
(b) any trust or other money held, whether tempo-
rarily or otherwise, by an officer in his official
capacity either alone or jointly with any other
person, whether an officer or not;
“plan and budget guidelines” means the plan and budget
guidelines referred under this Act;
“regional economic blocks” includes East African Comm-
unity, Southern Africa Development Community
and Common Market for Eastern and Southern
Africa and such other economic blocks;
"supplementary appropriation Act'' means any Act, the
the
is
purpose of which
appropriation already granted by an Appropriation
Act;
supplement
to
Cap. 370
“Treasury Registrar” has the same meaning ascribed to it
in the Treasury Registrar (Powers and Functions)
Act.
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Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
PART II
MACRO-ECONOMIC AND FISCAL FRAMEWORK
Principles of
fiscal policies
and
management
4.-(1) The Government and public entities shall, in
their policy objectives, adhere to the principles of fiscal
responsibility.
(2) The principles of fiscal responsibility shall
include-
(a) a borrowing policy which ensures that public
debt is sustainable;
(b) a fiscal policy that achieves and maintains an
adequate buffer of the State’s total net worth
in the future;
(c) minimization of fiscal risk to the country in
pension
guaranteed
loans,
respect
obligations and pending bills;
of
(d) a wage policy that is sustainable, attractive,
not wasteful, pegged to the size of the
economy, and ensures retention of competent
staff;
(e) policies that ensure a reasonable degree of
level and
future predictability about
stability in tax rates;
the
(f) a national budget and budgetary process that
transparency, accountability and
promotes
effective management of the economy and the
public sector;
(g) prioritization of productive expenditures rather
towards present
than expenditures geared
consumption, in allocation of resources; and
(h) observance of the doctrine of separation of
powers by ensuring that National Assembly
only gets involved in the management of
public resources in the instances set out by the
Constitution and any other written law.
(3) The Minister shall ensure that the principles of
prudent fiscal management are taken into account in the
preparation of and reporting to the National Assembly on
all matters required to be reported under this Act.
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Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
the
(4) The Government may deviate from
principles of prudent fiscal management where the
Minister-
(a) states the reasons for the departure including a
plan of action and duration within which
Government will revert to the principles of
prudent financial management; and
(b) tables such reasons, plan of action and
the National
duration of deviation
Assembly for approval before such fiscal
management policies are implemented.
to
(5) Deviation from the fiscal objectives shall be
assessed and explained in the subsequent year’s Plan and
Budget Guidelines.
Fiscal policy
objectives
5. The Plan and Budget Guidelines shall set out
fiscal objectives based on the following criteria:
(a) promote sustainable macro-economic stability
and non-inflationary and inclusive economic
growth;
(b) establish and maintain sustainable and low risk
debt budget financing mechanism;
(c) maintain a ceiling on fiscal deficit, including
grants;
(d) maintain sufficient
level of gross official
reserves to cover for imports of goods and
services; and
(e) sustain monetary and financial stability.
Macro-
economic
and fiscal
forecasts
6. The
financial programming and macro-
economic modeling used quarterly as an inputs for
preparation of the macro-economic framework, plan and
budget guidelines shall involve:
(a) assessing the world economic dynamics and its
impacts on the national economy;
(b) preparing macroeconomic assumptions and
outlook for the coming fiscal year;
(c) preparing medium
term macro-economic
framework that is used for the preparation of
the plans and budget guidelines;
(d) preparing requirements relating to the macro-
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Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
Coordination
with National
Development
Plan
Act. No.
9 of 2018
s. 24
economic and fiscal forecasts underlying the
Plan and Budget Guidelines and national
budget documents; and
(e) specifying Minister’s responsibility to produce
macro-economic and fiscal forecasts over a
medium-term time horizon.
7.-(1) The Government and public entities shall
prepare annual budget based on the approved medium and
long term plan.
(2) The budget prepared under subsection (1) shall
focus on the implementation of the National Development
Plan.
(3) In preparing budget under this section, the
Government and public entities shall not include in the
budget estimates any project which is not listed in the
National Development Plan or which can be financed by
private sector or in a manner satisfactory to the Govern-
ment.
(4) The Government and public entities shall
ensure that-
(a) only approved integrated development plans
are implemented;
(b) financial
resources
required by National
Development Plan are consistent with ceilings
indicated in the Plan and Budget Guidelines
prescribed under this Act;
(c) development projects are implemented in the
order of priority;
(d) a mechanism for implementation of develop-
ment and recurrent budgets is established;
(e) mechanism of reviewing any new development
projects before implementation is established;
(f) development projects are to be approved by the
Planning Commission before being included in
the budget;
(g) involvement of
and
the
financing
big
development projects through public private
partnership to the extent that this promotes
efficiency and has minimum financial risk to
the private sector
implementation
of
in
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Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
the government;
(h) criteria of devolving financial resources to
local government authorities are set;
(i) grading of local government authorities is
made for planning and allocation of financial
resources;
(j) timeframe for the preparation and distribution
of the Plan and Budget Guidelines is set; and
(k) criteria by which amounts to be allocated for
investing in development projects are set.
PART III
MANAGEMENT OF BUDGET PROCESS
Responsibili-
ties of
National
Assembly
8.-(1) The National Assembly shall have the
responsibilities to:-
(a) consider the budget estimates, macroeco-
nomic plan and programs;
(b) discuss and review the Plan and Budget
Guidelines and budget estimates;
(c) monitor all budgetary matters falling within
the competence of the National Assembly
under this Act;
(d) examine
financial
documents
recommendations
to
improving the public finance management;
(e) to make recommendations to the Government
statements and other
it and make
the Government for
submitted
to
on money Bills;
(f) provide recommendations on fiscal prudence
on budgetary matters; and
(g) carry on such other functions relating to the
Budget as may be assigned to or by any other
law in force.
(2) In carrying out its functions, the National
Assembly shall observe the principle of fiscal prudency
in the budgetary process.
(3) The Minister shall prescribe procedure by
which the National Assembly shall submit proposals and
recommendations that may be taken into consideration in
the preparation of national budget estimates.
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Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
Parliamentary
Budget
Committee
9.-(1) The Parliamentary Budget Committee shall,
in addition to functions provided under the Parliamentary
Standing Orders, carry out the following functions:
(a) discuss and review the Plan and Budget
Guidelines, budget estimates and make
recommendations to the National Assembly;
(b) consider
the
Budget
and
make
recommendations to the National Assembly;
(c) scrutinize the budget estimates of the National
Audit Office, Judiciary and the National
Assembly;
(d) provide general direction to the National
Standing
Assembly
and Parliamentary
Committees on budgetary matters;
(e) monitor all budgetary matters falling within
the powers of the National Assembly under
this Act or any other law and report on those
matters to the National Assembly;
(f) monitor adherence by the Government and
public entities to the principles of public
finance set out in the Constitution, other laws
in force, and to the fiscal responsibility
principles set out in the Public Finance Act
and this Act;
(g) examine
financial
submitted
statements and other
documents
the National
Assembly and make recommendations for
improving the management and accountability
in respect of public finances;
to
(h) conduct periodical study on the performance
trend of the Budget and make recommenda-
tions to the National Assembly for improve-
ments;
(i) in relation to oversight responsibility, discha-
rge or perform any function as spelt out
under the Parliamentary Standing Orders;
and
(j) do any other act or activities relating to
budgetary matters as may be assigned to it by
the National Assembly under this Act or any
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Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
other written law; and
(2) For the purpose of subsection (1), the
Parliamentary Budget Office
the
Parliamentary Budget Committee with professional
services in respect of budget, finance and economic
matters.
shall provide
Powers and
functions of
the Minister
10.-(1) The Minister
the
commencement of each financial year, cause to be
prepared and laid before the National Assembly-
before
shall,
(a) estimates of the revenue;
(b) expenditure
estimates
requirements for
United Republic for that year.
and
the Government of
financing
the
(2) Without prejudice
to
the generality of
subsection (1), the Minister shall be responsible for-
(a) developing the Government’s macro-fiscal
policy and medium-term expenditure frame-
work for the budget;
(b) controlling and supervising the preparation,
the budget
execution and monitoring of
including any adjustments to the budget;
(c) ensuring that all stakeholders are able to
participate and are informed on the decisions
taken on the budget within the medium-term
expenditure framework developed by
the
Minister under paragraph (a);
(d) publishing, by any means, the progress of
budget execution on a quarterly basis;
(e) managing and controlling Governments funds,
banking and payment arrangements, foreca-
sting of cashflows, public sector accounting,
public debt and Government financial assets
and liabilities;
(f) promoting and enforcing transparency and
sound management in respect of the revenue,
expenditure, assets and
the
Government.
liabilities of
(3) The Minister shall by regulations-
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Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
(a) prescribe procedures specifying how, when
and where the members of the public shall
participate in the budget process at
the
national level; and
(b) provide for the monitoring of budget by the
Auditor-General to ensure personal involve-
ment of the accounting officers in the work of
the budget committees.
Responsibili-
ties of
Minister
responsible for
Planning
11. The Minister responsible for Planning shall be
responsible for:
(a) preparation of the National Development
Plan;
(b) submission of the National Development Plan
to the Cabinet for approval;
(c) submission
approved National
Development Plan for the approval to the
National Assembly;
the
of
(d) coordination of the implementation of the
National Development Plan; and
(e) submission of the Statement of State of the
Economy to the National Assembly.
Powers and
functions of
Permanent
Secretary and
Paymaster
General
12.-(1) The Permanent Secretary and
the
Paymaster-General shall, for the purpose of ensuring
effective application of this Act and any subsidiary
legislation made or issued under the Act, be responsible
to the Minister.
(2) The Permanent Secretary and the Paymaster-
General shall ensure that-
estimates
(a) there is timely and effective preparation of
for
of
annual
consideration and approval by the Minister
subject
to approval by Cabinet before
submission to the National Assembly;
expenditure
(b) annual estimates of expenditure are prepared
in conjunction with any general or specific
direction of the Minister and reflect, as can
best be ascertained at the time, good value for
money and the effective use of Government's
resources.
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Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
(3) The Permanent Secretary and the Paymaster-
General shall, subject to the directions of the Minister,
control the issue of public funds to Government and
public entities and perform such other functions as the
Minister may prescribe.
(4) The Permanent Secretary and the Paymaster-
General may request for information that is necessary for
the purposes of preparing any report that is required to be
prepared under this Act from any public entity.
(5) A request made under subsection (4) shall be
in writing providing guidance in terms of the date by
which, and the format in which the information shall be
provided and a public entity so requested shall comply
with the request.
(6) Any public officer who, without reasonable
cause, fails to provide information requested under this
section commits a disciplinary offence and is liable to
disciplinary penalty that may be appropriate within the
circumstances.
(7) The Permanent Secretary and the Paymaster-
General shall, for the purpose of ensuring efficient use of
public funds by public entities, conduct periodical review
of revenue and expenditure of public entities.
(8) In the course of periodical review, the
Permanent Secretary may order any amount of funds to
be included in the general national budget.
(9) The Minister may, by regulations published in
the Gazette, prescribe mechanism
for conducting
periodical review of revenues and expenditures of public
entities
13. The powers and functions of the Planning
Commission shall be to-
(a) assess the state of the national resources for
development and advise the Government on
the efficient utilization of those resources;
(b) monitor the implementation of government
decisions on matters of planning and the
management of the economy;
(c) analyse the development project for inclusion
17
Powers and
functions of
the Planning
Commission
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
Commissioner
for Budget
National Plan
and Budget
Guidelines
Committee
in the development budget; and
(d) issue guidelines for the formulation of the
National Plan and monitor the preparation
process of long-term, medium term and short
term annual plans.
14.-(1) There shall be the Commissioner for
Budget.
(2) The Commissioner for Budget under the
direction of the Permanent Secretary shall be responsible
for the preparation, execution, monitoring, evaluation and
reporting of the budget.
(3) In the discharge of duties, the Commissioner
for Budget shall be answerable to the Permanent
Secretary.
(4) Without prejudice to the generality of this
section, the Commissioner for Budget shall be response-
ble for-
(a) reviewing of budgetary policies and provide
guidelines in this area;
(b) analysing votes estimates during the process
of budget scrutinazation;
(c) overseeing and managing the implementation
of the Government and public entities budget;
(d) preparing reallocation to the budget;
(e) monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the
Government budget;
(f) consolidating and managing cash flow plan
and performance; based disbursement; and
(g) advising on budgetary commitments of the
Government and financial obligations.
15.-(1) There shall be a National Plan and Budget
Guidelines Committee.
(2) Composition of the National Plan and Budget
Guidelines Committee shall be prescribed by the Minister
in the regulations.
(3) The National Plan and Budget Guidelines
Committee shall be responsible for advising the Govern-
ment in the preparation of the National Budget.
(4) The powers and functions of the National Plan
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Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
and Budget Guidelines Committee shall be to-
(a) prepare the Plan and Budget Guidelines; and
(b) request for
information
in writing from
Government or public entities
is
necessary for purposes of preparing the Plan
and Budget Guidelines.
that
Commissioner
for Policy
Analysis
Powers and
functions of
Treasury
Registrar
16.-(1) There shall be a Commissioner for Policy
Analysis.
(2) In the discharge of duties, the Commissioner
for Policy Analysis shall be answerable to the Permanent
Secretary.
(3) The functions of the Commissioner for Policy
Analysis shall be responsible to provide expertise in-
revenue mobilization,
(a) policy issues concerning fiscal matters inclu-
ding
expenditure
allocation and sources of financing and regio-
nal and international economic cooperation;
and
(b) macro-economic issues regarding to policy
formulation and implementation, data base
management and periodical reporting.
17. The powers and functions of the Treasury
Registrar shall be to-
(a) review, approve strategies, annual plans and
budgets of public entities which are under the
and
supervision of Treasury Registrar
incorporate into the National Development
Plan;
(b) supervise public entities investment funds;
(c) ensure
surplus,
and
dividends from public entities are paid when
due;
contributions
that
(d) direct or approve the adoption, application or
amendment of financial regulation to ensure
the proper accounting of the income and
expenditure of public entities;
(e) monitor capital grants, subsides, capital funds,
reserves or retained earnings, earned by a
corporation and other public investments;
19
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
Powers and
functions of
accounting
officers
(f) examine and approve organization structure,
salary structure, scheme of service in public
entities;
(g) manage and control privatization
funds
received from divesture process of public
entities, assets and shares; and
(h) ensure review and signing of every public
corporation performance contract geared
towards revenue improvement.
18. (1) The powers and functions of
the
accounting officers shall be to ensure that-
(a) budget of votes and public entities is prepared
as per Plan and Budget Guidelines;
(b) public funds and resources are properly
managed and safeguarded; and
(c) arrangements for collection of revenue from
the public are conducive to its collection.
(2)
the respective
Accounting officers of
ministries and public entities shall establish
the
composition of a budget committee which shall be
prescribed in the regulations.
PART IV
BUDGET PREPARATION AND APPROVAL PROCESS
Stages in
budget process
19.-(1) The budget process in any financial year
shall comprise of the following stages:
(a) integrated development planning process
which shall include long term and medium
term planning;
(b) planning and determining
financial and
economic policies and priorities at national
level over the medium term;
(c) approval of Plan and Budget Guidelines by
Cabinet;
(d) adoption of Plan and Budget Guidelines by
National Assembly as a basis for preparation
of the budget estimates for the succeeding
financial year;
(e) approval of the revenue measures by Cabinet;
20
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
(f) preparing budget estimates of the government
for the approval by the Cabinet;
(g) submitting budget estimates to the National
Assembly for approval;
(h) preparing the Appropriation Bill, the Finance
Bill and subsidiary legislation required to
implement Government’s budgetary propo-
sals;
(i) enacting
the Appropriation Act and
the
Finance Act;
(j) implementing the approved budget;
(k) evaluating and accounting for the Govern-
ment’s budgeted revenues and expenditures;
and
(l) reviewing and reporting on the budgeted
revenues and expenditures after every three
months.
(2) There shall be an Advisory Committee to the
Minister on revenue measures for the respective financial
year.
(3) The composition of the Advisory Committee
shall be prescribed by the Minister in the regulations.
National
Development
Plan
Plan and
budget
Guidelines
Act. No.
1 of 2018
s. 7
20. The Minister
for Planning
Commission shall prepare and lay before the National
Assembly the National Development Plan which shall be
the basis for the preparation of the National Budget.
responsible
21.-(1) The Minister shall prepare and lay before
the National Assembly Plan and Budget Guidelines.
(2) The Plan and Budget Guidelines shall be laid
before the National Assembly by October or November
each year or, in the event that the National Assembly is
not in session, October or November, within the first
week upon the convergence of the National Assembly.
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), where the
general election is scheduled to be held in the month of
October or November, the Minister may lay the Plan and
Budget Guidelines during the second meeting of the
National Assembly after the general election.
(4) The Plan and Budget Guidelines shall state the
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Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
broad strategic macro-economic issues which shall be the
basis of the budget of the succeeding financial year and
the medium term and shall include-
(a) an assessment of the current financial year
and the projected state of the economy for the
succeeding three financial years;
(b) the macroeconomic and fiscal policies for the
period specified under paragraph (a);
(c) targets for overall revenues, total aggregate
expenditure, domestic and external borrowing
for the succeeding financial year and the
medium-term;
(d) the total resources to be allocated to indivi-
dual programmes within a sector or Ministry
for the period identified under paragraph (a)
indicating the outputs expected from each
such programme during that period;
(e) the criteria used to allocate or apportion the
available public resources among the various
programmes;
(f) the estimates of interest and debt servicing
charges and loan repayments for the financial
year to which the budget relates and the two
succeeding financial years;
(g) proposal for financing any deficits for the
financial year;
(h) indication of the intention regarding borro-
wing and actions that may increase public
debt for the financial year;
(i) budgeted and actual revenue levels for the two
preceding financial years;
(j) budgeted and actual expenditure for the two
preceding financial years by vote and main
divisions;
(k) forecast financial position for the financial
year to which the budget relates and the two
succeeding financial years; and
(l) the policy objectives that guide the Govern-
ment’s budget decisions during the financial
year and the policy areas that the Government
focuses on during the financial year.
22
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
Budget of
public entities
(5) The Parliamentary Budget Committee shall,
not later than seven days after the Plan and Budget
Guidelines has been submitted to the National Assembly,
table a report containing its recommendations and the
National Assembly shall discuss and pass a resolution to
adopt the same with or without amendments.
(6) The Minister shall publish and publicise the
Plan and Budget Guidelines not later than fifteen days
after submission to the National Assembly.
22.-(1) Public entities shall prepare budget
estimates and submit to the Permanent Secretary for
scrutiny and approval in accordance with this Act and
receive funds from the Consolidated Fund based on
approved budget.
(2) On receipt of budget estimates, the Permanent
Secretary, may-
(a) approve the budget estimates with or without
variation; or
(b) reject the budget estimates and give reason for
the rejection.
(3) The Permanent Secretary may make variation
or reject budget estimates on the ground that matters
specified in line items:
(a) do not fall within principal functions of the
public entity concerned;
(b) are over-budgeted expenditure or are not
within supply or service
commensurate
obtaining in the market; or
(c) do not correspond
to austerity measures
outlined in the National Development Plan.
(4) The Permanent Secretary may order revenues
collected by a public entity in excess of budget estimates
to be remitted to the Consolidated Fund.
Submission of
budget
estimates and
related
documents for
approval
23.-(1) The Minister shall, within a period allowi-
ng time to meet the deadlines specified in this section,
submit to the Cabinet for its approval, the budget
estimates and other documents supporting the budget
estimates.
23
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
(2) Where the Cabinet has approved the budget
estimates all Ministers shall be collectively responsible
to-
(a) observe, support and advocate the budget
estimates; and
(b) supervise the implementation of the budget
estimates.
(3) The Minister shall, by the date prescribed in
the Parliamentary Standing Orders in each year, submit
to the National Assembly the following documents-
(a) the budget estimates; and
(b) documents supporting the submitted estimates
required to implement the budget.
(4) For purposes of subsections (1), the Govern-
ment shall, in respect of the National Assembly Fund and
the Judiciary Fund, ensure that funds allocated are in
such sufficient amount as would enable the National
Assembly and the Judiciary to perform and discharge
their respective functions and duties effectively.
(5) The Government and the National Assembly
shall ensure that the budget process is conducted in a
manner and within budget cycle that permits various
the
participants
requirements of this Act.
to comply with
the process
in
6) The Minister shall, after the budget estimates
and other documents have been submitted to the National
Assembly cause the documents to be published in the
Gazette and publicise the documents.
(7) The Minister shall, on approval of budget
estimates by the National Assembly, prepare and submit
an Appropriation Bill of the approved estimates to the
National Assembly.
Submission of
other budget
documents to
National
Assembly
24.-(1) In addition to the documents submitted in
terms of section 23, the Minister shall submit to the
National Assembly the following budget documents for
each financial year:
(a) the budget summary that includes:
(i)
a summary of budget policies inclu-
24
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
ding policies on revenue, expendi-
ture, debt and deficit financing;
(ii) an explanation of how the budget
relates to the fiscal responsibility
principles and to the financial object-
ives; and
(iii) a memorandum by the Minister exp-
lainning how the resolutions adopted
by the National Assembly on the
Plan and Budget Guidelines have
been taken into account;
(b) the format of the budget estimates that inclu-
des-
(i) a list of all entities that are to receive
funds appropriated from the budget of
the Government;
(ii) all estimated revenue by broad econo-
mic classification;
(iii) all estimated expenditure, by vote and
by programme, clearly
identifying
both recurrent and development expe-
nditures;
(iv) all revenue allocations to local gover-
nments from the Government’s share
including conditional and uncondi-
tional grants; and
(v) an estimate of any budget deficit or
surplus for the financial year and
medium and the proposed sources of
financing;
(c) information regarding loans made by the
Government budget, including estimates of
principal, interest and other charges to be
received by the Government in the financial
year in respect of those loans;
(d) information regarding loans and guarantees
made to and by the Government, including an
estimate of principal,
interest and other
charges to be paid by the Government in the
financial year in respect of those loans;
(e) information regarding any payments to be
25
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
made and liabilities to be incurred by the
Government for which an Appropriation Act
is not required which shall
the
constitutional or legislative authority for any
such payments or liabilities; and
include
taken by
(f) a statement by the Minister specifying the
measures
to
implement any recommendations made by the
the
National Assembly with
Government budget for the previous financial
year or years.
the Government
respect
to
National
Assembly to
consider
budget
estimates
Approval of
national
budget by
National
Assembly
(2) The Minister shall prescribe nature of infor-
mation that is to be presented in the budget estimates and
the form of presentation.
25.-(1) Before the National Assembly debate the
budget estimates, the Parliamentary Budget Committee
shall discuss the estimates and make recommendations to
the National Assembly taking into account views of the
Minister and the public as submitted before the cut-off
date prescribed in the regulations.
(2) Subject to the relevant provisions of the
Constitution, the National Assembly may amend budget
estimates of
in accordance with
resolutions adopted with regards to the Plan and Budget
Guidelines by ensuring that-
the Government
(a) an increase in expenditure in a proposed
appropriation is balanced by a reduction in
expenditure in another proposed appropri-
ation; and
(b) a proposed reduction in expenditure is used to
reduce the deficit.
26.-(1) The National Assembly shall, on or before
30th June each year and after debate in the National
Assembly, approve the annual national budget of the
Government for the next financial year by way of open
vote and call of name of each Member of Parliament.
(2) The National Assembly shall, immediately
after approval of the annual national budget, debate and
pass the Appropriation Bill, the Finance Bill and any
other legislative instruments that may be necessary to
26
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
implement the annual national budget.
Expenditure
appropriation
27.-(1) The Minister shall ensure
the
expenditure appropriations and the budget estimates in an
Appropriation Bill are presented in a way that-
that
(a) is accurate, precise, informative and pertinent
to budget issues; and
(b) clearly identifies the appropriations by vote
and programme.
(2) The appropriation to the National Assembly
shall consist of-
(a) recurrent expenditure of each programme,
broken down by expenditure items; and
(b) development expenditure of each develop-
pment project, broken down by expenditure
items;
(c) recurrent expenditure of each programme,
broken down by expenditure items; and
(d) development expenditure of each develop-
pment project, broken down by expenditure
items;
(3) Where budget estimates of expenditure are
approved by the National Assembly public moneys shall
be deemed to have been appropriated for the service of
the Government and public entities.
(4) Where an appropriation for the Government
and public entities has been approved, it shall be used
only in accordance with the purpose described and within
the limits set by different classifications within the
Government and public entity estimates.
(5) The Minister shall, within thirty days after the
National Assembly has approved the budget estimates,
consolidate, publish and publicise the budget estimates.
(6) The Minister shall
take all reasonably
practicable steps to ensure that the approved budget
estimates are prepared and published in a form that is
clear and easily understood by, and readily accessible to,
members of the public.
Where
Appropriation
Act is not yet
in force
28.-(1) Where the Appropriation Act has not
come into force at the commencement of any financial
year, the President may, by warrant signed by the
27
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
Appropria-
tions to lapse
at end of
financial year
to
the Minister, authorise a
President addressed
withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund for the purposes
of meeting the expenditure, necessary to carry on the
services of the Government until 31st October of the
relevant financial year or the coming into operation of
that Act, whichever event occurs earlier.
(2) Any sum so authorised shall not exceed the
sum specified for such service, in the estimates presented
for the current year or one-third of the sums provided in
the Appropriation Act.
(3) Funds expended under subsection (1) shall be
regarded as forming part of appropriation for the
financial year to which the Appropriation Act relates.
29.-(1) An appropriation that has not been spent
at the end of the financial year for which it was
appropriated shall lapse immediately at the end of that
financial year.
(2) Subject to any other written laws, where at the
end of a financial year, the Government or public entity
is holding appropriated money that was withdrawn from
the Consolidated Fund but has not been spent, it shall
repay the unspent money into the Consolidated Fund,
prepare and submit a statement of the same to the
Commissioner for Budget.
(3) Subsection (2) shall not apply to approved
carry-over prescribed in the regulations.
(4) The Accountant-General shall consolidate
statements submitted in accordance with subsection (2)
and submit to the Minister a report of the unspent money
which has been repaid to the Consolidated Fund.
(5) The Minister shall, at the end of each
financial year, submit to the National Assembly a
comprehensive report of unspent money repaid to the
Consolidated Fund and the Government proposal for
carry-over or other user of such money for approval by
the National Assembly.
Duration of
appropriations
and warrants
30.-(1) Every appropriation by
the National
Assembly of public moneys for the service of a financial
year and every warrant or other authority issued under
28
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
this Act in respect of such financial year, shall lapse and
cease to have any effect at the close of that financial year.
(2) The unexpended balance of any moneys
withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund shall be repaid to
the Consolidated Fund.
Submission
of budget
policy
highlights
Submission of
Finance Bill
31.-(1) The Minister shall, in each financial year
and with the approval of Cabinet, make public pronoun-
cement of the budget policy highlights and revenue
raising measures for the Government.
shall,
(2) The Minister
the
pronouncement,
into account any regional or
international agreements that the United Republic has
ratified, including the Treaty for the Establishment of the
East African Community, 1999 and where such
agreements prescribe the date when the budget policy
highlights and revenue raising measures are to be
pronounced, the Minister shall ensure that the measures
are pronounced on the prescribed date.
in making
take
32.-(1) The Minister shall prepare and submit to
the National Assembly, the Finance Bill setting out the
measures for raising revenue for the Government.
(2) Upon submission of the Finance Bill, the
National Assembly shall present its recommendations on
the Finance Bill.
(3) Any of the recommendations made by the
National Assembly or adopted by the National Assembly
on revenue matters shall-
(a) ensure that the total amount of revenue raised
is consistent with the approved fiscal frame-
work;
(b) take into account the principles of equity,
certainty and ease of collection;
(c) consider the impact of the proposed changes
on the composition of the tax revenue with
reference to the direct and indirect taxes;
(d) consider domestic, regional and international
tax trends;
(e) consider the impact on development, invest-
ment, employment and economic growth; and
29
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
Withholding
of approval
(f) take into account taxation and other tariff
agreements and obligations which the United
Republic has undertaken, including taxation
and tariff agreements under the Treaty for the
Establishment of the East African Commu-
nity, 1999.
(4) The recommendation made under this section
shall adhere to the principles for management of reve-
nues.
33.-(1) Where the National Assembly is satisfied
that there has been material failure to implement previous
audit recommendations made by the National Assembly,
the National Assembly may withhold the withdrawal of
specific line items on a vote on account, from the
Consolidated Fund such moneys, as it may determine for
the purpose of meeting any expenditure of such vote.
(2) Where a vote has wilfully and persistently
failed to implement or respond to audit questions and
recommendations, the National Assembly may, subject to
such conditions as it thinks expedient, withhold such
amounts from the vote for the year as are commensurate
to the amounts in the audit queries regarding that vote.
(3) Where the National Assembly is satisfied that
a vote has wilfully and persistently failed to-
(a) practise the principles of prudence and sound
fiscal management;
(b) adhere to proper accounting and financial
management practices; or
(c) meet fiscal objectives and goals,
it may, subject to such conditions as it considers expedi-
ent, withhold any one or more of the line items in votes
for the several services under that vote.
(4) Where the wilful and persistent failure of a
department have been shown to be caused by persistent
misconduct of any public officer, the National Assembly
may, by a simple majority vote, and subject to such
conditions as it may impose, withhold any of the
emoluments and benefits of such officer for such period
as it deems fit.
30
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
Government
deviation from
financial
objectives
(5) Where the vote lays a report before the
National Assembly showing that it has subsequently
implemented the audit recommendations, the National
Assembly may, where the Appropriation Act has not
come into force authorise such withdrawals on a vote on
account by that vote as it may determine.
(6) The Controller and Auditor-General may, in a
report to the National Assembly, recommend for the
withholding of any line item in accordance with this
section.
(7) In this section-
(a) “withholding” means the withholding in part
or in whole, temporarily or permanently, any
one or more of the line items in the votes
included in the annual estimates; and
(b) “vote” includes ministries and public entities.
34.-(1) The Government may, with the approval
of the National Assembly, deviate from the financial
objectives in a Plan and Budget Guidelines on a
temporary basis where such deviation is necessitated by a
major natural disaster or other significant unforeseen
event as stipulated under section 37.
(2) Where there is a change of the Government,
the new Government may, with the approval of the
National Assembly, deviate from the financial objectives
in a Plan and Budget Guidelines but shall not deviate
from the fiscal responsibility principles.
(3) The Minister shall provide a report to the
National Assembly regarding the deviation, and shall
include in the report-
(a) the reasons for and the implications of the
deviation;
(b) proposals to address the deviation;
(c) the period the deviation is estimated to last;
and
(d) the status of development projects initiated by
the Government and if any project has been
stopped, the reasons for doing so.
31
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
Sources of
Contingency
Fund
Cap 418
Minister to
administer
Contingency
Fund
Advances
from
Contingency
Fund
(4) The Minister shall, within thirty days after
submission to the National Assembly, publish and
publicise a report made under subsection (3).
35.-(1) The Contingency Fund established shall
consist of funds appropriated from the Consolidated
Fund by an Appropriation Act in any financial year.
(2) The Contingency Fund shall form part of the
annual national budget and the National Assembly may
appropriate such other money as it may deem necessary
to replenish the Contingency Fund.
(3) The Contingency Fund shall form part of the
annual budget and the National Assembly, in addition to
amount under subsection (2), appropriate such other
moneys as it may deem necessary.
(4) The Controller and Auditor-General shall, in
accordance with the Public Audit Act, make a report to
the National Assembly on
the
Contingency Fund.
the accounts of
36.-(1) The Minister shall administer
the
Contingency Fund.
(2) The permanent capital of the Contingency
Fund shall not exceed the total amount as may be
prescribed by the Minister upon approval of the National
Assembly.
(3) The Minister shall keep the Contingency Fund
in a separate account, maintained at the Bank of
Tanzania and shall pay-
(a) into that account all moneys appropriated to
the Contingency Fund by an Appropriation
Act; and
(b) from the Contingency Fund, without undue
delay, all advances made under section 35.
37.-(1) The Minister may make advances from
the Contingency Fund where, on the basis of set criteria
and the process and operational guidelines prescribed in
the regulations and
to disaster
management, is satisfied that an urgent and unforeseen
need for expenditure has arisen for which there is no
specific legislative authority.
laws relating
the
32
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
(2) For the purpose of subsection (1), the Minister
shall by regulations, make guidelines on advance
payments on matters which shall considered to be-
(a) unforeseen and cannot be delayed until a
later financial year without affecting the
general public interest; and
(b) an event that was unforeseen.
(3) In addition to regulations and relevant laws,
and for the purposes of this section, an unforeseen event
is one which-
(a) threatens serious damage to human life or
welfare;
(b) threatens serious damage to the environment;
and
(c) is meant
to alleviate
loss,
hardship or suffering caused directly by the
event.
the damage,
(4) An event shall be considered as threatens
damage to human life or welfare only where it involves,
causes or may cause-
(a) loss of life, human illness or injury;
(b) homeless or damage to property; or
(c) disruption of food, water or shelter.
(5) The moneys in the Contingency Fund which
is reserved to finance natural disasters may be used to
evacuate a citizen of the United Republic who is affected
by a natural disaster that occurs outside the United
Republic, where the conditions of subsection (1) are met.
(6) A financial donation to a vote, toward a
natural disaster shall be declared to the Minister within
thirty days of receipt.
(7) Subject to subsection (2), the Minister shall,
by regulations, prescribe the criteria for making advance
under subsection (1).
Parliamentary
approval for
payments
made from
Contingency
Fund
38.-(1) The Minister shall, within two months
after a payment from the Contingency Fund is made
submit to the National Assembly a detailed report in
respect of the payment setting out the information
specified in section 39(2) and move the National
Assembly to approve the payment.
33
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
Financial
statements in
respect of
Contingency
Fund
(2) Where the National Assembly does not sit
during the period referred to in subsection (1), or is not
sitting at the end of that period and the Minister has not
sought the approval of National Assembly before the end
of that period, the Minister shall seek the approval for the
payment not later than fourteen days of the sitting of the
next National Assembly.
(3) As soon as practicable after the National
Assembly has approved the payment, the Minister shall
cause an appropriation Bill to be introduced in the
National assembly for the appropriation of the money
paid and for the replenishment of the Contingency Fund
to the extent of the amount of the payment.
39.-(1) The Minister shall, within three months
after the end of each financial year, prepare and submit to
the Controller and Auditor-General financial statements
for that year in respect of the Contingency Fund.
(2) The Minister shall include the following
information in the financial statements prepared under
subsection (1)-
(a) the date and amount of each payment made
from the Contingencies Fund;
(b) the person to whom the payment was made;
(c) the purpose for which the payment was made;
(d) where the person to whom the payment was
made has spent the money for that purpose, a
statement to that effect;
(e) where the person to whom the payment was
made has not yet spent the money for that
purpose, a statement specifying the reasons
for not having done so; and
(f) a statement indicating how the payment
conforms to the criteria for which the advance
was made.
Accruals and
investments
40. Moneys shall not accrue to the Contingency
Fund other than moneys appropriated by an enactment of
Parliament and any interest or other accruals which
might otherwise be received by that Contingencies Fund
and such moneys shall be paid into the Consolidated
Fund.
34
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
Reallocation
of funds
Act No.
8 of 2017
s. 4
41.-(1) An accounting officer may, upon approval
by the Minister, reallocate funds from the authorised
expenditure.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection
(1), an accounting officer shall not reallocate funds
where-
(a) funds are appropriated
prescribed as ring fenced;
for expenditure
(b) funds are appropriated for transfer to another
government entity or person;
(c) funds are appropriated for capital expenditure
except to defray other capital expenditure;
(d) reallocation of funds is from wages to non-
wages expenditure; or
(e) transfer of funds may result in contravention
of fiscal responsibility principles.
(3) An accounting officer for a Government and
all public entities may reallocate funds between programs
or between sub-votes, in the budget for a financial year,
where -
(a) there are provisions in the budget of a
program or sub-vote which are unlikely to be
utilised;
(b) a request for the reallocation has been made
to the Treasury explaining the reasons for the
reallocation and the Treasury has approved
the request; and
(c) the total sum of all reallocations made to or
from a program or sub-vote does not exceed
the
that
total expenditure approved for
program or sub-vote for that financial year.
(4) The Minister may, by regulations, authorise
the re-allocation of expenditure within the ambit of
budgetary agency’s appropriation and reallocation of
funds within sub-votes or programs.
(5) Powers of the Minister for reallocation of
amounts under the budget shall not be exercised-
(a) in the amount of line items between different
votes;
35
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
(b) from capital expenditures
to
recurrent
expenditures,
Provided that, the reallocation shall be authorized by a
supplementary estimate; and shall not exceed
the
approved vote;
(6) Accounting officer may reallocate amount of
line items within the same vote without obtaining
authorization of the Minister not exceeding the percent
prescribed in the regulations of the approved vote budget
and provide a report to the Paymaster-General on
quarterly basis of such reallocations.
(7) Any reallocations of funds shall be made in
consultation with affected Government Ministries and
Government entities.
(8) The Minister shall lay before the National
Assembly a mid-year report in respect of reallocation
made under this section.
Excess
revenues
42.-(1) All revenues collected in excess of the
amount mentioned in the estimates shall be remitted to
the Consolidated Fund.
(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of the
Public Finance Act, statement of expenditure in excess
shall be accompanied by a report of the relevant
accounting officer explaining the cause of the excess
expenditure and the measures to be implemented for
preventing its reoccurrence.
Submission of
supplementary
budget
43.-(1) The Government shall submit to the
National Assembly for approval, a supplementary budget
in support of money spent in excess of the approved
budget or to meet unplanned expenditure.
(2) A Supplementary budget shall be required
for-
(a) increasing or decreasing of an appropriation,
its purpose, or create a new
change
appropriation under an Appropriation Act;
(b) increasing or decreasing the amount of a line
item under the estimates where it cannot be
achieved through virements or change of its
36
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
purpose; or
(c) indicating the manner in which Contingency
Fund was used.
(3) Where the National Assembly has approved
the spending, an Appropriation Bill shall be introduced
for the appropriation of the moneys spent.
(4) The supplementary budget shall include a
statement of additional expenditure and revenues relating
to the fiscal responsibility principles and financial
objectives.
PART V
BUDGET EXECUTION, MONITORING, EVALUATION
AND REPORTING
Commitment
of approved
budget
44.-(1) The Minister shall, after approval of the
annual national budget by the National Assembly, issue
the annual cash flow plan of Government based on work
plans, procurement plans and recruitment plans as
approved by the National assembly.
(2) The annual cash flow plan issued under
subsection (1) shall be the basis for release of funds by
the Accountant – General to an accounting officer.
(3) Accounting officer shall commit the budget in
accordance with the annual cash flow plan issued under
this section.
(4) A vote or special fund shall not take any
credit for services or goods from any person unless it has
capacity to pay for the expenditure from the approved
estimates as appropriated by the Parliament for that
financial year.
37
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
Authorities for
expenditure
45. Where the Government and public entity
have expenditures that are charged on the Consolidated
Fund under an enactment of Parliament-
(a) an accounting officer has the authority to
spend the money in accordance with the
purposes specified in the legislation; and
(b) funds disbursement to votes shall be based on
performance, approved budgets and funds
availability.
Grants of
credit
46. The Controller and Auditor-General shall, by
warrant under his hand, issue grants of credit on the
Consolidated Fund to the Minister for-
(a) the amounts becoming payable during the
statutory
three months
for
ensuing
expenditure; and
(b) the amounts becoming payable for the service
of a financial year under the authority of an
Appropriation Act.
Withdrawal
from
Consolidated
Fund
Cap. 348
47.-(1) Payment shall not be made-
(a) out of the Consolidated Fund except in the
manner provided for by an enactment of
Parliament; and
(b) in excess of the amount granted under an
appropriation for any service.
(2) The provisions of the law relating to public
expenditure shall apply in relation to withdrawal of funds
from the Consolidated Fund.
Disbursement of
fund to National
Assembly and
Judiciary Fund
48. Subject to the provisions of section 43, the
Treasury shall, within every quarter in each financial
year, pay out of the Consolidated Fund into the National
Assembly Fund and the Judiciary Fund, as the case may
be, all moneys appropriated by the Parliament to cover
expenditures for activities of the National Assembly and
the Judiciary in respect of such quarter.
38
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
Accountant-
General’s
Warrants
49.-(1) The Accountant-General shall, by warrant
under his hand, authorise accounting officers to incur
expenditure up to the limits and for the purposes and
subject to the conditions set in the warrant.
(2) The Warrant shall not be issued by the
Accountant-General unless the sum and purpose for
which it is issued have been clearly stated in a warrant
issued by the Paymaster-General.
(3) Every Warrant issued by the Accountant-
General shall be subject to such limits and conditions as
the Minister may determine.
(4) An accounting officer may not make any
payment or accept any charge in his accounts or incur
any commitment or expenditure, unless and until
authorised by warrant.
(5) For
(4),
the purpose of
“commitment'” means a contract, agreement or other
arrangement providing for a payment.
subsection
Assumption of
commitments
50. A public entity shall make commitments on
the following conditions-
(a) an amount to be paid under the commitment
the available
less
to or
than
be equal
appropriation;
(b) the legality of expenditure to be made under
the commitment have been verified; and
(c) the commitment is in accordance with a
quarterly budget release.
Multi-annual
commitments
51.-(1) Any multi-annual commitments shall
require prior approval of the Minister.
(2) Approval of the Minister is required for the
purposes of ensuring that-
(a) the commitment do not cause a multiannual
expenditure ceiling under the Plan and Budget
Guidelines;
39
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
(b) the amount to be paid under the commitment
within the present financial year be equal to
or less than the available appropriation;
(c) the legality of expenditure to be made under
the commitment have been verified; and
(d) the portion of the commitment to be paid
from
in
the present year’s budget
accordance with a quarterly budget release, if
any.
is
Commitment
control system
52.-(1) The Government or public entity shall be
required to-
(a) maintain a commitment control system into
which all assumed commitments are entered;
and
(b) prohibit payment from the budget without the
underlying commitment being recorded in the
commitment
the
commitment number being issued by the
system.
control
system
and
(2) For
the purpose of subsection (1), all
outstanding commitments shall be included in the annual
estimates showing-
(a) sufficient amount of a line item to cover the
outstanding multiannual commitments to be
paid under the line item; and
(b) expenditure ceilings and fiscal forecasts under
the Plans and Budget Guidelines adequately
reflect the outstanding multiannual commit-
ments.
to
53.-(1) The Accounting Officer shall prepare and
the Permanent Secretary, a quarterly
submit
expenditure commitments report indicating the actual
and forecast commitments and cash position of a vote or
fund based on activities of the vote or fund and the
execution of the budget of the vote or fund.
(2) The Minister shall, with due regard to a report
submitted under subsection (1) and within thirty days
after the end of mid-year, submit a consolidated report to
the National Assembly.
40
Report on
expenditure
commitments
Act No.
8 of 2017
s. 5
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
Development
project contracts
54.-(1) A public entity shall, before concluding
any contract that has financial implication, obtain the
approval of the Minister.
(2) The Minister may, within thirty days, provide
the financial approval on the conditions that the contract
satisfies the criteria on assumption of multiannual
commitments and the project is affordable.
In-year
reporting
in
to
the regulations, submit
55.-(1) The Accountant-General shall, within the
time prescribed
the
Permanent Secretary, information of every Government
and public entities on actual revenue and expenditure for
the preceding month and the amounts anticipated to be
collected or expended for that month by the Government.
(2) Public entities, special funds and social
security funds shall report to the Paymaster-General the
actual revenues and expenditure on a quarterly basis.
for Budget
in
collaboration with the Commissioner for Policy Analysis
shall, within the time prescribed in the regulations, issue
and publish quarterly a report on budget execution.
(3) The Commissioner
(4) An accounting officer shall, within, the time
prescribed in the regulations submit quarterly progress
reports to the Permanent Secretary.
Compliance
report
Act No.
8 of 2017
s. 6
56.-(1) The Minister shall, six months after
approval of the annual national budget by the National
Assembly and at the end of each financial year, lay
before the National Assembly a compliance report.
(2) Where the National Assembly is not in
session on the date specified under subsection (1), the
compliance report shall be laid before the National
Assembly on the second day immediately after the
reconvening of the National Assembly.
(3) The compliance report under subsection (1)
shall be debated in the National Assembly.
(4) A compliance report shall-
(a) indicate the period under review, the extent to
which the objectives and targets in the Plan
and Budget Guidelines were met; and
41
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
(b) specify the following amounts and compare
them with the corresponding targets for the
period under review:
(i) actual revenue for the relevant
period and a comparison of the
expected;
(ii) the actual expenditure per vote,
distinguishing between capital
and current expenditure for that
period, and for the financial year
up to the end of that period; and
(iii) actual borrowing for that period,
and for the financial year up to the
end of the financial year.
(5) Where objectives and targets are not met, the
compliance report shall state-
(a) reasons why such objectives and targets were
not met;
(b) remedial measures undertaken to ensure that
objectives and targets which were not met
shall be met in the next quarter; and
(c) any proposed Government policy decisions
that may materially affect the objectives and
targets in the budget statement of intent or the
economic
country’s overall
performance.
fiscal
and
(6) The Accountant-General
shall prepare
monthly statements of the Consolidated Funds which
include the actual revenue and exchequer releases and
submit to Permanent Secretary for use in the preparation
of various reports.
Mid-year
statements of
Government
Act No.
8 of 2017
s. 7
57.-(1) The Accountant-General shall prepare the
aggregate actual
the
Government and public entities and forward to Minister
who shall, six months after approval of annual national
budget, submit the same to the National Assembly.
revenue and expenditure of
(2) Each accounting officer shall prepare and
statement of
submit
reallocation made within his respective votes.
the Paymaster-General
to
42
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
Principles for
manage-ment
of revenues
PART VI
MANAGEMENT OF REVENUES
58. The revenue part of the budget shall be based
on the following principles-
(a) all
revenues of
from
domestic and foreign sources are deposited to
the Consolidated Fund;
the Government
(b) any person who is vested with authority for
collection of public revenues is accountable
for efficient collection, accounting and
reporting based on the applicable law and
taking precautions to prevent mismanagement
of revenues; and
(c) all
revenues
of
appropriated in the Appropriation Act.
the Government
is
Responsibility
in revenue
collection and
management
59.-(1) The Minister shall work on procedure by
which proposals and recommendation on the budget
estimates for next financial year of
the National
Assembly shall be submitted or channelled to the
Minister not later than 15th February.
(2) Responsibilities of the Permanent Secretary
in relation to revenue collection and management shall
be to-
(a) manage and set principles for planning and
researching existing and potential sources of
revenues;
(b) establish a mechanism and cut off points in
receiving proposals for revenue measures;
(c) develop revenue measures for Government
budget;
(d) mobilise resources including assistance from
development partners and integrate the funds
into planning, budgeting,
reporting and
accountability processes as prescribed by this
Act; and
(e) promote and enforce transparency, efficiency
and effective management of revenues.
43
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
PART VII
OVERSIGHT OF PUBLIC ENTITIES AND
EXTRA-BUDGETARY AGENCIES
Budgetary and
financial
management
of local
government
authority
Cap.
60.-(1) The Minister shall oversee the budgetary
local government
financial management of
and
authorities.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), both draft
and approved budgets of local government authorities
shall be submitted to the Minister and to the Minister
responsible for local government authorities on specific
deadlines.
(3) The establishment and management of extra-
budgetary and special funds of
local government
authorities shall require approval by the Minister upon
consultation with the Minister responsible for the local
government authorities.
(4) Without prejudice to the provisions of the
Local Government Finance Act, borrowing by a local
government shall be apaproved by the Minister.
(5) “Extra budgetary fund” as used in this section
means a fund which operate outside the Government
budget system.
Powers of
Minister to
waive tax, fees
or charges
Act No.
8 of 2017
s. 8
61. The Minister may waive tax, fees or charge
imposed by the Government in accordance with criteria
provided for under any written law, provided that he
maintains a record of each waiver together with the
reasons for the waiver and submit a mid-year report to
the National Assembly.
Budgetary and
financial
management
of extra-
budgetary
agencies
Act No.
8 of 2017
s. 9
62.-(1) The Minister
for any
respective agency shall oversee the budgetary and
financial management of extra-budgetary agencies and
special funds included in the central government and
social security funds.
responsible
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)-
(a) both draft and approved budgets of extra-
funds shall be
budgetary agencies and
required to be submitted to the Minister and
44
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
respective portfolio Minister by specific
deadlines as prescribed in the regulations;
(b) borrowing by extra-budgetary agencies and
funds shall require prior-approval of the
extra-budgetary
Minister, where
agencies have such legal capacity.
such
PART VIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Regulations,
instructions,
and
directions
Act No.
8 of 2017
s. 10
63.-(1) The Minister shall make such regulations
as is necessary for the better carrying out of the provisions
of this Act.
(2) Without prejudice
to
the generality of
subsection (1), regulations shall provide for-
(a) contents and form of the various reports
required under this Act;
(b) time lines in which mid-year compliance
reports shall be laid before the National
Assembly;
(c) criteria by which the National Assembly
determines that there has been wilful or
persistent
to comply with audit
recommendations; and
failure
(d) the formula or criteria to be used to determine
what proportion of a vote on account is to be
withheld for failure
the
provisions of this Act.
to comply with
Extension of
time
64. The National Assembly may, by resolution,
extend the time limit for submitting a statement or other
document required to be submitted to the National
Assembly under this Act other than the time limit set
under the Constitution.
Liability on
failure to
meet
requirements
of this Act
65.-(1) Where the Government and public entities
fail to meet any requirement under this Act, the National
Assembly may compel the relevant Minister to appear
before it and give explanation on the circumstance leading
to the failure.
45
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
Act No.
8 of 2017
s. 11
(2) Where it is evident that a public officer
intentionally or through negligence led to the failure of the
Government or public entities to meet any requirement
under this Act, that public officer commits an offence and
shall be held personally liable for criminal prosecution or
disciplinary action as the case may be, depending on the
nature of the failure.
(3) The Minister shall take corrective actions
against a public entity where it causes financial non-
compliance or significant overspending or unbudgeted
expenditure.
(4) Corrective actions referred under subsection
(3) shall include:
(a) submission and approval of action plan;
(b) deduction of overspending or unbudgeted
the subsequent budget
from
expenditure
estimates;
Corrective
measures
against
entities
included in
Government
and public
entities
(c) requirement of the Minister’s prior-approval
for certain expenditure; and
(d) suspension of financial management powers
of an accounting officer.
66.-(1) The Minister may take such corrective
actions against a local government authority, extra-
budgetary agency and special fund included in the
Government and public entities where such a local
government authority, extra-budgetary. agency or special
fund cause financial non-compliance or face financial
problems.
(2) The corrective actions shall include-
(a) submission of action plans;
(b) requirement of the Minister’s approval for key
financial decisions;
(c) reduction or suspension of transfer from the
Government budget; or
(d) appointment of financial administrators to take
over certain financial decision-making powers.
Indemnity of
public
officers
67. A public officer in the Government, public
entity, extra-budgetary agency or special fund shall not be
liable administratively or criminally for
personally
46
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
anything done or omitted to be done in good faith in the
execution or purported execution of any duty imposed or
exercising power conferred by this Act.
Overriding
effect of Act
68. This Act shall have overriding effect on any
other written law on any matter relating to-
Transitional
provisions
(a) national budget, budget of public entities, local
government authorities or extra budgetary
agencies;
(b) management of budget process;
(c) budget execution, monitoring, evaluation and
reporting;
(d) management of revenue and expenditure; and
(e) oversight of public entities and extra budgetary
agencies.
69.-(1) Upon the coming into force of this Act, the
consideration of the votes on account for the various votes
that have not been filed in compliance with reports or
implemented audit recommendations shall take place on
the day after the annual estimates are laid before the
National Assembly.
(2) Votes shall request such amounts as are needed
for the purpose of meeting the expenditure necessary to
provide Government and public entities operations before
the coming into force of the Appropriations Act for the
year.
(3) The National Assembly may limit amounts
approved under votes on account to the percent to be
prescribed in the regulations of the total sums in the
budget estimates for the year where the requesting vote
has not complied with any of the provisions of this Act.
(4) In this section, “Government operations”
means any of
the services rendered and activities
undertaken by any vote whether such services are
recurrent or not.
47
Budget Act [CAP. 439 R.E. 2020]
PART IX
CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS
70. [Sections, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74 and 75 respecti-
vely are hereby omitted].
Ommission
of
consequential
Amendments
sections
Caps. 115,
418
and 237
_________________
48