African governments are increasingly assuming new functions to respond to social and economic needs, and these functions are slowly becoming part of the accepted responsibilities of government. These book addresses the need to modernise and improve budgetary concepts and procedures; and documents work achieved so far to make the budget system responsive to the increasing responsibilities of the state, and people's search for a better quality of life. The study discusses and provides practical guidance on how the budgetary system can be an effective device for planning, reviewing and controlling government operations, particularly in relation to the implementation of national development within the scope of public budget. Contents: budget policy; programme performance and the budgeting system; budget preparation, legislative authorisation; budget execution; budget accountability; government financial management; and the governmental budget department. The author is a member of the Department of Management and Accounting, at the University of Ife, Nigeria.