By DOH JAMES SONKEY
The 2019 budget has been launched at the Ministry of Higher Education with finance officials at the ministry and in the 8 state universities called upon to ensure an optical and methodical use of state resources.
Making the call last January 23, 2019 at the National Advanced School of Engineering, Yaounde, Minister of State for Higher Education, Fame Ndongo flanked by the Director General of Budget at the Ministry of Finance, Cyril Alo’o Edou and the Director General of Economy at the Ministry of Economy, Isaac Tamba underlined that “our sector must cease from being regarded as a sector where state budget is wasted, thus, we must prove that higher education is catalyst for human resources development in the country.”
He urged his close collaborators to ensure efficiency of service, pertinence and innovation in actions on budget transparency and management discipline in order to promote programmes management performance at the Ministry of Higher Education.
“Use this budget to produce more results, for the visibility of our universities, for reading of our programmes, actions and activities without blocking subsequent performance.” The Minister of State instructed his collaborators.
In his expose, the Director General of Budget at the Ministry of Finance, Cyril Alo’o Edou said 2019 budget will be executed under the theme “budget discipline” and explained that the finance law has 4 main challenges; economic programme, elections, decentralization and the fight against insecurity.
On his part, the Director General of Economy at Minepat, Isaac Tamba said 60% of this year’s budget is reserved for infrastructures.
While praising the ministry for the well execution of external budget, he regretted that the internal budget still stands at near 0%.
The Economy DG noted with dismay, irregularities in the holding of consultation meetings thereby penalizing the return of information to the Ministry of Economy.
Declaring that “We have very little information on subventions dished out to universities” he reassured that the Ministry of Economy is available to organize trainings for Minesup under the auspices of Minister of State.
At the end of the deliberation, Minister of State for Higher Education, Prof Fame Ndongo expressed hope to see that recommendations formulated by Minepat, Minfi and Minmap are taken into consideration so that information should flow between Minesup, other government structures and higher education partners.