The Minister for Public Enterprises, Hon. Paula Piukala, has raised concerns over government overspending on international travel, citing poor planning and budget misalignment.
Speaking at a press conference last Friday, Minister Piukala revealed that the government’s travel budget of $4.7 million for the current financial year had reached $5.2 million by December 2024. The Legislative Assembly surpassed its travel budget by $600,000, while the Prime Minister’s Office exceeded its allocation by $300,000.
“The problem is poor planning,” Piukala stated during a press conference last Friday. “Budget does not match the plan. Government should know what travel commitments to take within the 12-month period budgeted and so align the travel expenses accordingly. In that way, we can navigate expenditure according to plan.”
The Prime Minister, Dr. ‘Aisake Eke, who also serves as Minister of Finance, was absent from the press conference due to meetings in the United States.
Minister Piukala also highlighted concerns within the Ministry of Public Enterprises, noting that the ministry’s budget is $1.9 million, with $1.4 million allocated to board of directors’ salaries. He emphasised that the ministry, which provides oversight for public enterprises, is duplicating expenses by maintaining such a high allocation for board salaries.
These revelations come as Parliament prepares to discuss the next financial year’s budget, prompting calls for more stringent fiscal planning and oversight.