Luanda: Members of the National Assembly's 1st, 4th, and 5th Specialized Working Committees have urged the Executive to implement strategies aimed at enhancing the revenue collection capabilities of the country's provinces. This call to action was made during a joint meeting on Friday, where the committees discussed and approved the draft resolution related to the General State Budget (OGE) execution report for the first quarter of this year. The resolution passed with 28 votes in favor, six against, and no abstentions.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the lawmakers emphasized the need to strengthen tax revenue collection by addressing tax evasion and expanding the taxpayer base. They proposed that additional revenues from the rise in international oil prices be allocated to the productive sector and used for public debt reduction, which could stimulate GDP growth and alleviate the debt burden on current and future fiscal years' budget execution.
The legislators also recommended that future quarterly OGE execution reports provide detailed analysis on the impact of rising oil prices on revenue, as well as the allocation of these funds within the economy. Moreover, they suggested ensuring timely and reliable financial disbursements to various sector programs to promote balanced execution of activities related to justice administration, human rights, and the modernization of identification services.
The recommendations extended to the continuous upgrade of computerized systems within justice and human rights agencies to improve data processing speed and security. The lawmakers pointed out the need for better financial execution in the Education and Telecommunications and Information Technology sectors, which reportedly underperformed according to the report.
In response to a 43% increase in financial availability in the first quarter, the committees advocated for diversifying revenue sources and directing funds towards strategic investments for sustainable socio-economic growth. They also highlighted the importance of consolidating social funds, specifically by bolstering the Social Protection Fund and the Armed Forces Social Security Institute.
Additionally, the Specialized Working Committees reviewed and voted on the reports concerning the bill for the Code of Procedure for Payment and Enforcement of Social Security Debts, and the bill authorizing the National Bank of Angola to issue a commemorative coin with legal tender status. These proceedings were attended by parliamentarians from the Committees on Constitutional and Legal Affairs, State Administration and Local Government, and Economy and Finance.
