Govt revised Constituency Development Fund guidelines to quicken processes

Government has issued new guidelines to streamline the approval of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) projects for quick implementation of the programmes.

The specific objective is to quicken the implementation of CDF projects through limited delegation of the powers of the Secretary to the Treasury to the Principal Local Authorities Officers (Town Clerks/Council Secretary’s) for variations.

This also includes if necessary, estimates of expenditure and disbursed funds, within the CDF programme in local authorities.

According to Treasury and Financial Management Circular No. 4 of 2023, dated January 3, 2023, the Secretary to the Treasury has delegated the function of approval of up to a maximum of 25 percent variation of estimates of expenditure, to Principal Officers (Town Clerks/Council Secretary’s) in Local Authorities, where necessary.

Furthermore, circular no. 4 of 2023 would guide Principal Officers (Town Clerks/Council Secretary’s) in Local Authorities on variation of funds within the CDF programme.

Key issues to note in the Circular are that:where the variation of expenditure estimates and disbursed funds within the CDF sub-programme was above the authorised threshold of 25percent, local authorities would continue to seek written approval of the Secretary to the Treasury.

Variation of estimates of expenditure and disbursed funds from community projects, youth, women empowerment and secondary school boarding and skills development bursaries sub programme to the administration sub – programme would not be allowed.

However, if the demand for the uptake of bursaries and skills development was below the stipulated threshold, variations in favour of community projects would be allowed.

“The Controlling Officer, Local Government and Rural Development, is required to appoint Principal Officers in Local Authorities as Sub-Warrant-Holders for them to approve variation of expenditure estimates and disbursed funds up to a maximum of 25 percent of the total budget provision of a particular sub-programme within the CDF programme,” the circular stated.

“Going forward, the Government will continue to monitor the efficacy of the measures to ensure that the beneficiary communities are well served through effectively implemented CDF projects.

“All Local Authorities are urged to acquaint themselves with the Treasury and Financial Management Circular No. 4 of 2023, to ensure that some of the approval shortcomings in the implementation of CDF are curtailed,” according to the circular.