The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Steel Development has denied accusations of budget irregularities in the ministry’s 2024 budget execution, in response to concerns raised by members of the National Assembly. In a statement, the Permanent Secretary addressed claims of “ghost projects” and procurement discrepancies, attributing the challenges to insufficient funds hindering project implementation for the year. The Ministry is reported to have adhered to civil service regulations governing budget execution and emphasized its commitment to transparency and adherence to government expenditure protocols. The statement follows inquiries by the National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Steel Development during their review of the 2024 budget implementation. The committee raised issues regarding alleged procurement law violations and questioned the validity of certain projects overseen by the ministry. Co-chairman of the committee called for a forensic audit of the ministry’s 2024 accounts, expressing concerns over potential mismanagement of funds and highlighted discrepancies in budget submissions. The Ministry’s response reiterated its dedication to upholding integrity and complying with statutory obligations while refuting the allegations of budget infractions and emphasizing adherence to laws and guidelines in the budget implementation for the specified year.
Steel ministry denies budget infraction, rebuts N’Assembly claims
