CAG REPORT: Premier orders work plan on committee recommendations

PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has directed all the Ministries to prepare a timely strategic plan on the execution of the resolutions based on the Parliamentary Public Account Committee (PAC) and Local Authorities Accounts Committee (LAAC) committees’ recommendations regarding the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) report.

The premier made the directives yesterday when adjourning the 13th session of the 12th Parliament in Dodoma.

The assembly discussed in detail the Parliament Committee’s statements from the CAG report, including the PAC, LAAC and the Parliamentary Public Investment Committee (PIC) for the financial year ended in June 2022.

According to him, the committees’ reports have analysed in detail the various audit arguments concerning the use of public funds for the Central Government, Local Government Authorities (9LGAs), Public entities as well as the trends of public capital investment made by public institutions in the financial year ending June 30, 2022.

“A total of 117 resolutions based on 14 arguments have been issued by the Parliament, which are basically specific instructions to the government,” the PM said.

“The government has received the committee’s recommendations and MPs opinions. All ministries have already prepared the plan that will enable them to implement the recommendations.

It is a clear fact that the opinions raised by the MPs are many, important and all require swift responses and implementation,” he said.

The Premier assured the House that his office will also present a detailed report to the Speaker showing how the government has worked on the committees and MPs recommendations.

“Hence, I would like to ask you (MPs), in line with the answers given by the government during the session, let us work on all the issues, particularly those that need policy and legal changes,” the Premier said.

On weather forecast, the Premier said there is a possibility of El Nino rains in various parts of the country. He mentioned the regions in the list as Kagera, Geita and Mwanza. Others include Manyara, Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Shinyanga, Southern part of Simiyu region, Northern part of Kigoma region, Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Coast region, including Mafia islands and Northern part of Morogoro region.

He said the government is already taking measures and directed all region and district authorities to follow all precautions procedures.

On revenue collection, the Premier told Parliament that the government has managed to collect 9.06 trillion in the first quarter of financial year 2023/2024, which is 89.6 per cent of the target set for the said period.

He said the money was collected from both internal and external sources. He said 6.94 trillion has been collected from internal sources. According to Premier Majaliwa, the government has recorded good performance in revenue collection due to strong strategies put in place to ensure the country’s economic growth.

The PM said the government has set good environment for strategic investment in the production sector, social services and infrastructure.

“We have managed to do all these due to strong and good leadership of President Samia Suluhu Hassan,” he said.

He said the government under President Samia has improved the revenue collection system and ensured easier means of paying tax among Tanzanians.

He added: “Proper revenue collection has led to improvement of services through development of infrastructure   such as construction of hospitals, health centres, central railway line at international standard level, the Julius Nyerere Hydro Power Project (JNHPP), road construction, education programmes and rural electrification.”

Moreover, the Premier directed the President Office, Planning and Investment in collaboration with other institutions such as Tanzania Investment Centre (TIC) to improve the investment guidelines so as to identify various opportunities and thus attract more investors in the country.

“TIC should also invest more on information technology, this will help in promoting various available investment opportunities in the country,” he said.

On education, the Premier said at least 1,206,995 out of 1,397,370 students who completed standard seven this year are expected to join form one in January, next year.

“86.4 per cent of students who sat for Standard Seven examinations are expected to join secondary schools in January, 2024,” he said.

He added that at least 1,877,484 children of whom boys are 934,560 will be registered for nursery schools and 1,729,180 children of whom 860,870 are boys are set to join Standard One in January, next year.

On agriculture, Prime Minister Majaliwa said until October 31, 2023, a total of 3.6 million farmers had been registered to get identification number for purchasing subsidised fertilisers.

“I would like to order all District Commissioners who are also chairpersons of the agriculture inputs committee to encourage farmers to register for subsidised fertiliser along with providing correct information,” he noted.

Moreover, the Premier said at least eight bills were tabled in the House. He mentioned them as The Written Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No.4) Bill, 2023, The Legal Sector Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, 2023 and the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Bill 2023. Others are the Written Laws Miscellaneous (Amendments) (No.5) Bill, 2023, the Political Affairs Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and National Electoral Commission bill 2023.