The Pan African Parliament (PAP) has condemned the African Union Commission for disregarding requirements of the Protocol in the consideration and approval of the African Union Budget.
The Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Mr. Erastus Mwencha, presented the African Union Agenda 2063 and the 2014 African Union Budget to the plenary sitting of the Pan African Parliament in Midrand, South Africa, on Tuesday October 22, 2013.
The Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community provides that PAP would “discuss its budget and the budget of the Community and make recommendations thereon prior to its approval by the Assembly (of Heads of State).”
The budget was however discussed by the Permanent Representatives Council and approved by the African Union Heads of State in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in May 2013.
The President of PAP, Hon. Bethel Amadi said, “We urge that this (presentation of budget to PAP) is done. You need to support PAP in this endeavor. (PAP) is composed of representatives of the people.”
Members said that it made no meaning to present to PAP an already approved budget, since no changes could be made to it.
The Leader of Uganda’s delegation, Hon. Cecilia Atim Ogwal (FDC, Dokolo district), said the Parliament must be involved in the budget making process at the preliminary stage.
“This is the only way PAP will play an effective budgeting and oversight role,” she said.
Hon. Jacqueline Amongin (NRM, Ngora district) said it was meaningless to discuss an already approved budget.
“This is a waste of time. In future it is imperative that we are involved in the budgeting process at an early stage,” she said.
Members also appealed to governments to fund the AU budget to avoid depending on foreign donors, who set conditions and alter the Commission’s priorities.
Hon. Bernadette Lahai (Sierra Leone) said the budget was poorly presented as it lacked expected revenues, expenditures, programmes budgeted for in the last financial year, incomplete programmes and related issues.
The total regular budget for the African Union for 2014 amounts to US$308m; US$126m is expected from AU Member states while US$170m will be secured from international partners