The Opposition’s role in scrutinising government spending was under examination following the Standing Finance Committee’s review of the 2026/2027 Estimates of Expenditure.
Political Scientist Professor Hamid Ghany says the Opposition controls which ministries are questioned, but must manage its time carefully to ensure adequate scrutiny of public funds.
Speaking on TTT’s FOCUS morning show, Political Scientist Professor Hamid Ghany gave an overview of the process and purpose of the Standing Finance Committee, noting that this process is led by the opposition.
“Well this process that we have here was brought in when the standing orders were changed in 2014 the Parliament in 2014 changes standing orders to allow a more extended period of scrutiny over the annual estimates of expenditure For each year after the budget is read So you’d have the budget is presented and five days later the leader the opposition replies and that starts the budget debate So when the budget debate is finished, then the house resolves itself into standing Finance Committee.”
During the course of the committee, Professor Ghany highlighted several instances when ministers did not get questioned by members of the opposition. Among them was the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, and the Office of the Attorney General, whose proposed spending was passed without interrogation.
“There were no questions for the Attorney General so that the Opposition sometimes you don’t know what political decision is made about who to question and when to question and why to question It’s their call. It’s entirely their show. They they control this process.”
Despite these instances, he believes the five-day process provides adequate time for scrutiny, although the sittings are demanding for parliamentarians and public officers.
“Well, I think five days is a pretty long time I mean all the parliamentarians will tell you where there’s those who’ve served in government those who’ve served in opposition You put aside five days for this and you’re going from you know, ten hours a day. It’s it’s it’s a gruelling process and I think where we are now from where we were There’s certainly an adequate amount of time for scrutiny of public accounts.”
Professor Ghany says the Standing Finance Committee remains a vital tool for scrutinising public expenditure, but its effectiveness ultimately depends on how strategically the Opposition allocates its time and how rigorously it pursues its line of questioning.