Legislators' Awareness on Budget Oversight Role Improves

Transparency and accountability are vital aspects of good governance and in a democracy these values are enforced through the oversight roles of the people’s representatives in the legislature. Through APAP’s support, members of the Meshrano Jirga and Wolesi Jirga have come to realize that they have a much wider role to play in the budget process, that is, oversight of budget execution and holding ministers accountable for funds allocated to them.

In a move that shows that the Senators and MPs’ understanding of their role has reached another level, the Meshrano Jirga and Wolesi Jirga members had by the end of February summoned 10 ministers to explain their failure to spend above 40% of their 1389 development budget. This reflects that both houses of the National Assembly now understand that theyhave a bigger role to play in the budget process other than merely rubber-stamping or rejecting the budget.