Fouzi Lekjaa. Credit: DR
The opening of additional credits of 14 billion dirhams (MMDH) for the general budget aims to support Public Establishments and Enterprises (EEP) affected by international price fluctuations, and to cover staff expenses resulting from social dialogue agreements between the government and the social partners, indicated, Monday in Rabat, the Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy and Finance, in charge of the Budget, Fouzi Lekjaa.
During a meeting of the Committee on Finance and Economic Development in the House of Representatives, devoted to examining the decree in question approved at the last meeting of the Government Council, Lekjaa clarified that on these additional credits, judged “urgent and necessary”, 4 billion dirhams will be allocated to the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) in 2024 in order to maintain the prices of water and electricity for all consumers, in particular citizens.
And to add that the rates of water and electricity bills will not undergo any increase this year, despite the successive increases observed in several countries, including those which depend on the importation of raw materials to produce energy electric.
He also underlined that these credits include 6.5 billion dirhams to implement the government’s commitments made within the framework of social dialogue, the cost of which will reach 45 billion dirhams by 2026, and will concern 4,250,000 civil servants and employees, noting that “the new approach adopted by the government in social dialogue aims to strengthen the purchasing power of the middle class, affected by price fluctuations at the international level”.
Lekjaa also noted that tax revenue reached 14.3 billion dirhams as of May 31, 2024, recording an increase of 14.58% and 10.48% for customs revenue, affirming that these results “are the fruit of joint work and multiple reforms aimed at broadening the tax base.”
Compared to forecasts, the rate of implementation of the 2024 Finance Law stands at 46% during the first five months of the year, he added, noting that the work will continue at the same pace, in particular to broaden the tax base and ensure the participation of all taxpayers in paying their taxes.
The results obtained and the government’s dynamic action will make it possible to generate financial margins which will be used to cover additional credits, including in particular 3.5 billion dirhams to support the airline Royal Air Maroc and finance urgent expenses linked to agricultural consumer products. until the end of this year, he argued.
Lekjaa also recalled that the opening of additional appropriations takes place as part of the preparation of the draft Finance Law 2025, developed by the services of the ministry in coordination with the various ministerial departments, in accordance with the provisions of article 60 of the Organic Law relating to the Finance Law (LOF), and on the basis of article 70 of the Constitution.
