UNDER the Fiji Budget Estimates 2017-2018, a total of $628.1 million has been allocated under Head 50 (Miscellaneous Services), which includes $19.3m for capital construction, $44.7m for capital purchases and $442.1m for capital grants and transfers.
The allocations under Head 50 in the national budget has been steadily increasing and has more than doubled over the past three years after an actual of $306.5m in 2016, a revised estimate of $460.5m in the 2016-2017 budget and $628.1m in the 2017-2018 budget.
Government says that funding allocations under Miscellaneous Services are administered by the Ministry of Economy and includes allocations that require additional scrutiny for disbursement and stringent monitoring procedures to ensure that funds are utilised properly.
While this was the correct approach in as far as the proper use of Government fund goes, it should be noted that Head 50 alone represented 14.4 per cent of the national budget for 2017-2018 and this is exceptionally high for a miscellaneous expense category in any budget. It should also be noted that funding for contingency purposes like natural disasters are also allocated under this head.
The major funding allocations under this head include allocations for the Tertiary Education Loans Scheme, National Toppers Scholarship program, ongoing rehabilitation of schools damaged by TC Winston, ongoing contingency funds for disaster risk, vehicle leasing the purchase of vehicles and other capital grants and transfers.
