Oshana governor gives strict orders against budget underspending

Oshana governor Hofni Iipinge has issued a stern warning to regional heads of public institutions, emphasising that no funds allocated to the region should be returned to Treasury due to poor planning or negligence.Addressing a high-level engagement session at Leo Shoopala Hall in Oshakati on Wednesday, Iipinge stressed that the region has been allocated N$357 million under the 2025/2026 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), and that every dollar must be spent efficiently, transparently, and within the financial year.“The era of unspent budgets and the return of funds to Treasury must come to a decisive end. This practice undermines development, delays service delivery, and erodes public trust in our institutions,” he said.He instructed all regional heads to thoroughly familiarise themselves with their MTEF projects, including understanding budget allocations, project timelines, procurement processes, and expected outputs. “Ignorance or detachment from your institution’s budgeted projects is unacceptable,” he added.Quarterly progress reportsTo enhance oversight, Iipinge announced that all institutions will now be required to submit quarterly progress reports to his office. These must include details on project implementation, budget utilisation, milestones achieved, challenges encountered, and proposed remedial actions. The reports will supplement existing submissions to the Regional Development Coordinating Committee.Highlighting the need for consequence management, Iipinge vowed to engage relevant ministries and offices where institutions fail to deliver on their mandates. “Oshana will no longer be the region where budgets are underutilised, or where implementation is perennially delayed,” he warned.He also called for stronger collaboration among institutions, particularly on cross-sector projects, to overcome internal bottlenecks and ensure effective service delivery.“Our people are not interested in excuses; they want results,” Iipinge said, adding that while his office will provide support where needed, it will also demand accountability where performance falls short.

Oshana governor gives strict orders against budget underspending

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-08

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Oshana governor gives strict orders against budget underspending

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-08

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