A round-up of public finance news stories from the Middle East & Africa you might have missed this week (September 23-27).
Zimbabwe: civil servants table their pay demands
Public sector workers opened negotiations with the government on a new pay structure on Tuesday with demands for housing stands and hefty allowances for rural workers. President Robert Mugabe and labour minister Nicholas Goche have both promised an upward pay review for government workers including teachers, soldiers, police officers, nurses and doctors. (AllAfrica.com)
Nigeria: pension assets will triple national budget in three years, legislators predict
The Nigerian National Assembly has predicted that pension assets in the country would grow from the N3.50 trillion recorded as at July 2013 to N6 trillion in 2014, and could triple the national budget in the next three years. (AllAfrica.com)
Egyptian finance ministry hopes to cut budget deficit to 10% after minimum income implementation
Egypt’s budget deficit is expected to drop to 10% during the current fiscal year, according to Finance Minister Ahmed Galal. This is compared to 9.1%, which the government had hoped for prior to the passing of Egypt’s minimum income law. The new law sets monthly minimum income rates at EGP 1,200. (Daily News, Egypt)
Ugandan teachers suspend strike after promise over pay
Ugandan teachers suspended a strike for higher pay on Wednesday after the government pledged to meet their 20% pay raise demand, despite strained resources after Western donors cut off direct budget support over corruption claims. (Reuters)
Africa's healthcare cocktail: of coverage, cost and innovation
Feature: The perilous state of health care in sub-Saharan Africa begs for more investment. Communicable and parasitical diseases persist, with few countries able to provide basic sanitation, clean water and adequate nutrition to all of their citizenry. Few countries are able to spend the $35 per person that the World Health Organization considers the minimum for basic health care. (Ventures Africa)
Israel's Defense Ministry accuses treasury of creating NIS 4.5 billion hole in budget
The Defense Ministry has accused the Finance Ministry of short-changing it by NIS 4.5 billion and is demanding that that amount be added to the 2014 defence budget – a request that is adamantly opposed by the treasury. (Haaretz)
Lagos set to become Africa's Tech hub by 2020
Lagos State, the commercial centre of Nigeria, is expected to become Africa’s technology hub by 2020, an analyst has said. (BusinessDaily Online)
