Maravi

PAC cautions permanent secretaries over irregularities in AG’s report

PAC cautions permanent secretaries over irregularities in AG’s report
By Ernest Chanda
Thu 18 Mar. 2010, 03:50 CAT

PARLIAMENTARY public accounts committee chairperson Emmanuel Hachipuka has cautioned permanent secretaries against taking pride in being cited for various financial irregularities by the Auditor General’s office.

Hachipuka made the remarks when communications and transport ministry permanent secretary Dominic Sichinga appeared before the committee to explain the steps taken concerning various irregularities highlighted in the annual Auditor General’s reports.

Hachipuka urged all controlling officers to consider the image of the country in whatever transactions were made under their control.

He said whatever revelations were made by the Auditor General’s office also reflected the image of the country.

“Let me just say a few remarks as we conclude this session. No controlling officer should be happy to be cited for various irregularities.

What’s in here Auditor General’s report shows what we are as a country. And whatever is reflected in this document has a bearing on the image of this country.

Right now I’m nicely dressed, now imagine if I came here dressed in my underpants, what would you think of me? Everyone here would say there’s something wrong with me,” Hachipuka said.

“Equally, the irregularities highlighted in this book reflect the image of this country. Please take note of the procedures and programmes in the financial guidelines. For example why would a voucher be allowed to be missing just like that?”

Hachipuka urged controlling officers to take the relationship between them and the Auditor General’s office seriously and improve on their weaknesses.

“A very high percentage of funding is coming from donors. And if donors realise that we don’t care about the way we spend money, no matter how many trips Rupiah Banda makes going into China no money will come to support us.

So, take serious the engagement between the Auditor General and yourself; that it has serious repercussions on the governance of the country, on the level of support, on the signals it gives in as far as the country is concerned,” he said.

“It should not be a joyous moment for anybody to be cited. So, if you are not clear about the procedures of the Auditor General I can ask her to issue a small booklet on the procedures of the kinds of audits she can undertake so that you controlling officers take serious note of the procedures and the programmes in there.”


And submitting earlier, Sichinga revealed that his office had recovered a good amount of unretired imprest and missing payment vouchers.

“Some of the missing payment vouchers and unsupported vouchers amounting to K248,439, 418 have been found, leaving the balance of K147,474,708. Efforts are being made to trace the remaining missing payment vouchers,” submitted Sichinga.

“From the total amount of K353, 588, 300 imprest outstanding as per status report, K77, 007, 500 has since been retired leaving a balance of K276, 580, 800. Efforts are being made to ensure that the remaining unretired imprest is retired, failure to which recoveries will be made from the officers’ salaries as reminders asking the officers to retire the imprest have already been sent.”

Labels: ATTORNEY GENERAL, EMMANUEL HACHIPUKA, PAC, PERMANENT SECRETARIES

posted by MrK @ 3:08 PM