The schedule for ministers and state institution heads to appear before the National Assembly's Budget Commission for the 2027 finance bill review is set. Hearings start on November 16 at the National Assembly in Porto-Novo. The government's general presentation of the 2027 finance bill will kick off the process. This will pave the way for sectoral reviews of the bill. The first to present will be Economy and Finance Minister Aristide Médénou on November 16.
Minister Médénou will defend his department's budget for next year. Other government members will follow. State institution heads are also expected to appear. The Court of Accounts is scheduled for November 18, followed by the Economic and Social Council, the High Court of Justice, the Beninese Human Rights Commission, the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court, the High Authority for Audiovisual and Communication, and the Data Protection Authority.
The hearings will run from November 16 to 30. However, the Senate's President, Patrice Talon, is not listed to defend the Senate's budget. The reason is that the Senate's budget, like the National Assembly's, is directly transmitted to the Economy and Finance Minister for incorporation into the finance bill adopted by the Council of Ministers on October 7.
As a result, Patrice Talon, like National Assembly President Joseph Djogbénou, will not appear before the Budget Commission. This practice dates back to the first legislature. Even before the bicameral parliament, the National Assembly's budget was not defended before the Budget Commission. Instead, it was sent to the government for integration into the state's general budget.
The bicameral system has not changed this rule. Both chambers will not appear before the Budget Commission. The Senate's budget has not been omitted; it is simply not scheduled for defense before the Commission. The schedule, signed by Commission President Gérard Gbénonchi, shows an absence that has drawn attention - that of the Senate.
The program was established to ensure a smooth review of the 2027 finance bill. All stakeholders, including government ministers and state institution heads, are expected to play their part. The review process will help ensure that the country's budget is well-planned and executed.
In Benin, the budget review process is an essential part of the country's financial management. The National Assembly's Budget Commission plays a critical role in this process. The Commission reviews the budget to ensure that it aligns with the country's development goals and objectives.
Key points
- Patrice Talon won't defend the Senate's budget before the National Assembly's Budget Commission.
- The Senate's budget is directly transmitted to the Economy and Finance Minister for incorporation into the finance bill.
- The practice of not defending the Senate's and National Assembly's budgets before the Budget Commission dates back to the first legislature.
