The Honorable Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh yesterday officially opened the 2025 Budget hearings at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown. The focus of the hearings is to set the tone for discussions on the policy perspectives underpinning the 2025 Budget.
In his keynote statement, the Honorable Vice President outlined the trust of the budget arguing that it is the vehicle to drive the implementation of the Big Five Game Changers.
He told Ministers, senior Government officials and vote controllers that the focus is to build on the gains of President Dr Julius Maada Bioโs first term particularly the human capital development outcomes.
Dr Juldeh Jalloh highlighted some of the seminal gains in the areas of education, healthcare, governance, infrastructure and support to the security sector.
Looking into 2025, the Honorable Vice President reiterated the key priorities around the Government Big Five Game Changers including Feed Salone and Job Creation.
The VP used the occasion to thank the Minister of Finance and his team for their tremendous work over the years to stabilize the economy and deliver services.
However, the Honorable Vice President cautioned the Ministry of Finance against any attempt to increase taxes but instead called on improved tax management. He argued in favor of reducing budgetary allocation to the energy sector and admonished the Ministry of Energy to enhance the governance of the utilities in order to reduce technical and commercial losses.
Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh concluded his statement with an optimistic outlook for the economy and the country in the years ahead.
