By Wezzie Gausi:
The National Registration Bureau (NRB) has told the Budget and Finance Committee of Parliament that it needs an additional K5.8 billion for it to finalise outreach registration campaigns nationwide.
The national ID outreach registration exercise is an initiative aimed at reaching out to citizens who stay far away from NRB registration points, especially in rural communities.
Speaking to The Daily Times after appearing before the committee in Lilongwe Wednesday, NRB Director Noel Chikhungu said NRB will need the money for its operations.
He said, for the bureau to reach out to all areas of the country, there is a need to increase the allocation.
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“This financial year, we were allocated about K24.1 billion, which is not enough looking at the work we are supposed to do. As you are aware, we are now doing outreach registration, which requires more resources. As things stand, the bureau does not have the money to reach every corner and that is why we are asking for additional funds from the Treasury,” Chikhungu said.
Budget and Finance Committee Chairperson Gladys Ganda said NRB’s call for more funds is justified.
“You may be aware that people were questioning why the outreach exercise is happening in some selected districts but, with what the bureau has told the committee, it is clear that the institution does not have enough resources.
“We will be meeting Treasury [officials] for them to tell us their side of the story. We are of the view that institutions like NRB need adequate funds for them to operate well,” Ganda said.
