Government officials converged at the Ministerial Complex in Oldest Congo Town to join the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) in officially launching the 2026 National Budget Preparation Process.
The event brought together heads of ministries and agencies, as well as budget and financial officers from various government institutions. It aimed to brief participants on their respective budget ceilings, submission timelines, and the roadmap for the 2026 budget formulation.
Through this launch, the MFDP seeks to ensure the timely submission of the draft national budget to the National Legislature, in accordance with the law.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Finance and Development Planning assured stakeholders of the Ministry’s commitment to completing the draft 2026 budget on schedule and submitting it promptly to lawmakers.
“Those days when draft budgets were delayed and handed to the Legislature with expectations for rushed passage are over,” the Minister said.
The launch came just a day after the MFDP officially announced the start of the budgeting process.
This marks the beginning of the first phase of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget formulation, aligned with the Amended and Restated Public Financial Management (PFM) Act and its 2009 Regulations. The process is designed to guide spending entities through the procedures and planning necessary for preparing the national budget.
A key highlight of the event was the release of Budget Call Circular 1 (BCC1), which provides strategic guidance to government spending entities in preparing their plans, programs, and initial budget proposals. BCC1 ensures alignment with the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), the administration’s flagship policy framework.
Issued under Section 17 of the amended PFM Act and Sections 15 and 16 of the amended PFM Regulations, BCC1 includes a comprehensive timetable and instructions for drafting and submitting the Budget Framework Paper (BFP) and the Draft National Budget for FY2026–2028. It also sets indicative ceilings for both recurrent and capital expenditures, provides the detailed FY2026 budget calendar, and offers guidance on prioritizing programs within available resources.
The FY2026 draft budget will be the fifth under the reformed fiscal calendar (January 1–December 31) and the third under the current administration.
With this launch, the MFDP is set to begin the Strategic Phase of the budget process, focused on early identification of national priorities, policy objectives, and fiscal targets.
This proactive approach aims to enhance performance-based budgeting and reaffirm the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and results-oriented public financial management.
