The President Ratu Josefa Iloilo has gazetted the 2008 Appropriation Amendment Promulgation to be effected from January 1st to allow amendments to the 2008 national budget estimates.

The Gazette dated May 5th, 2008 allows the amendments to the 2008 national budget following the reduction in the size of the interim cabinet from 16 to 12 interim Ministers in January this year.

This was done after a decision taken by cabinet following submissions from the Interim Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry that the changes need to be made following the reduction in the cabinet size and appointments of Permanent Secretaries.

This saw the transfer of the Department of Public Enterprise to the Office of the Attorney General, transfer of the Energy Water and Sewerage to the Ministry of Finance, merger of the Ministry of Health with the Ministy of Women and Social Welfare, the merger of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Youth and Sport and the merger of the Ministry of Labour and Department of Local Government.