What Is the National Budget and Why Should Citizens Care?

The national budget is the government’s yearly plan for how public money will be collected and spent. It shows how much money is expected to come in and how that money will be allocated to ministries, agencies, and public services.

For citizens, the budget matters because it directly affects daily life. Funding decisions influence roads, schools, hospitals, water supply, sanitation, public safety, and social services. Even if citizens never read a full budget document, understanding the basics helps them see how national decisions shape local conditions.

Knowing how the budget works allows citizens to ask informed questions, follow public spending more closely, and participate meaningfully in accountability.