The Ministry of Finance has announced that it disbursed over ETB 300 billion in subsidies for basic inputs over the past eight months, while effectively managing the national budget deficit, mobilizing unprecedented levels of foreign resources, raising domestic revenue, and ensuring sound financial governance. According to Finance Minister Ahmed Shide, these measures are part of the government’s broader macroeconomic reform program, which he says is being implemented successfully through the Ministry’s adherence to fiscal discipline, inflation control, and tax policy enforcement.  

The remarks were made during a review meeting with the House of People’s Representatives’ Standing Committee on Planning, Budget, and Finance, which assessed the ministry’s performance over the past eight months. Minister Shide emphasized that prudent financial management has strengthened the macroeconomic reform agenda, enabling the government to support key sectors and maintain fiscal discipline.  

State Minister Dr. Eyob Tekalign highlighted additional achievements, including efforts to curb rising living costs, public awareness campaigns on tax policies, and improved cash flow management—particularly in ensuring timely budget disbursements to regional administrations. He also noted corrective actions taken on audit findings and reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to further reducing inflationary pressures in the coming fiscal year.  

Committee Chairman Desalegn Wedaje commended the ministry’s overall performance but called for improvements in public project execution, government asset management, and electronic procurement systems. He also stressed the need for better oversight of regional project financing and audit compliance.  

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Ethiopia’s Ministry of Innovation and Technology is under intense scrutiny after a parliamentary committee uncovered a budget deficit exceeding half a billion birr (USD 9 million), alongside allegations of financial mismanagement and procedural violations.

The House of People’s Representatives’ Standing Committee on Public Expenditure Management and Control Affairs flagged multiple irregularities, including the misuse of public funds, failure to conduct pre-feasibility studies for key projects, and unauthorized budget reallocations. According to Chairperson Yeshimebet Demise (PhD), several government-funded and donor-financed initiatives were launched without proper consultation, leading to significant inefficiencies and unclear project statuses.

The audit findings revealed that multiple projects suffered from delayed execution and financial mismanagement, with some being terminated prematurely and their budgets reassigned without legal oversight. The committee has instructed the ministry to provide a detailed report on unauthorized expenditures—including transportation rentals, data center construction, and inflated employee salaries—within 15 days.

Concerns were also raised over the ministry’s human resource management, with recruitment processes failing to align with legal frameworks. Officials stressed the urgent need for systematic hiring reforms and the recovery of high-value government assets still unreturned by former employees.

Federal Auditor General Meseret Damte criticized the ministry for its failure to take corrective measures, stating that funds were allocated to projects that remain incomplete. The audit further exposed weaknesses in human resource and asset management, along with payments made outside legal provisions. The Federal Anti-Corruption Commission has been called upon to enforce accountability measures and oversee financial discipline within the institution.

Responding to the scrutiny, Minister of Innovation and Technology Belete Molla (PhD) admitted that audit deficiencies had occurred due to the complex nature of the ministry’s operations. He pledged to implement an action plan to address the financial and operational gaps, with updates to be presented to the standing committee.

He also highlighted that the ministry is engaged in numerous projects under the Digital Ethiopia 2025 initiative, in collaboration with the World Bank and other international partners. The minister assured that steps would be taken to rectify the shortcomings and enhance transparency in project execution.




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