Despite the growing public debate on fiscal surprise during election periods in jurisdictions where the democratic dispensation is young, comprehensive empirical works to this effect in the case of Africa are hard to find. This study, therefore, sought to contribute to the debate on two counts....

Expenditure arrears, signifying prolonged delays in the government meeting its financial obligations to suppliers and creditors, have become an increasingly common feature of government operations in many developing countries. This paper indicates the significance of arrears in distorting...