The National Assembly on Tuesday approved the 2027 Appropriation Bill, approving D48.6 billion for government spending in the next financial year, with the largest portion of the allocation going to debt servicing.
The approved budget has allocated D16.17 billion for National Debt Service, which is about 33.3 per cent of the total government appropriation. The figure illustrates the heavy burden that debt repayments still place on public finances.
The amount set aside to service the country’s debt exceeds the combined budgets of the Ministries of Basic and Secondary Education and Health – two critical sectors that provide vital public services.
The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education received the second-largest allocation, with D6.13 billion, while the Ministry of Health was allocated D4.11 billion.
Among other major spending areas, the Ministry of Interior received D2.38 billion, followed by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs with D2.24 billion. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad was allocated D2.23 billion.
The Ministry of Defence received D1.88 billion, while the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure was allocated D1.81 billion. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security received D1.77 billion, with D1.36 billion allocated to the Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines.
Other allocations include D740.8 million for the Office of the President and D648.4 million for the National Assembly. The Independent Electoral Commission received D607.8 million, while the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology was allocated D517.8 million.
The National Audit Office received D428.9 million, followed by the Judiciary with D399.7 million and the Office of the Vice President with D393.6 million.
Smaller allocations were made to several other ministries and institutions. The Ministry of Youths and Sports received D156.7 million, while the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare was allocated D127.1 million.
The Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services received D75.8 million, while the Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources was allocated D72.3 million.
The Appropriation Bill gives the government the legal power to spend money on all ministries, departments and public institutions in the 2027 financial year.
But the size of the debt service budget is suggestive of the pressure national debt commitments put on government spending priorities. The availability of resources for public services, infrastructure and development programs is an important issue in the evaluation of the fiscal priorities of the country. Some one-third of the approved appropriation is earmarked for debt repayment.
The figures also raise broader questions about the government’s ability to balance debt obligations with investment in education, healthcare and other key sectors.
