K270mil budget for SHP

THE Southern Highlands assembly approved a budget of K270 million in its first assembly meeting on Tuesday.
Almost all the assembly members turned up, including the three local MPs and minister – Mendi-Munihu’s Michael Nali (Works and Implementation), Imbonggu’s Pila Niningi (Inter-Government Relations) and Kagua-Erave’s Wesley Raminai (Higher Education, Research Science and Technology).
Former prime minister and Ialibu-Pangia MP Peter O’Neill and Nipa-Kutubu MP Jeffery Komal were the only members absent.
Most of the 2021 Budget was from the national government grants – K125mil, while K109mil was sourced from internal revenue and about K36mil from re-appropriated funds.
“The budget is focused on six or seven main priority areas, however, the main focus will be the law and justice sector,” Powi said.
“We talk about leadership, policy and other development agendas but if we do not have a robust law and order system, our aims and visions will be shattered.
“This budget comprises of a comprehensive range of programme objective priority areas.
“They are the law and justice sector, followed by education, infrastructure, health, rural electrification, leadership and governance, small and medium enterprises and others.”