Lawmakers demand answers to millions of unpaid loans, double salaries
The National Assembly’s Public and Finance Accounts Committee (FPAC) on Monday raised concerns over unresolved audit findings involving unrecovered loans, double salary payments, missing personal files and salary increments without proper documentation, as consultations on the Auditor General’s report on government accounts continued.
Chairperson of the committee, Hon. Alhagie S. Darboe, led the session, which focused on issues flagged by the National Audit Office (NAO) in the Auditor General’s report and responses provided by the Accountant General’s Office.
One of the issues discussed was the non-recovery of 81 one-by-six loans affecting the ministries of Health, Basic and Secondary Education, Agriculture, Interior and Defence. The total amount stood at D2,430,668.32. The audit had recommended that all outstanding loans be recovered and that evidence be submitted for verification.
Accountant General Agnes Macaulay told the committee that management was analysing the unrecovered loans to determine their source and effect recovery.
However, NAO representative Babucarr Jallow stated that the issue remained unresolved at the time the management letter was finalised.
Pressed by the chair on the status of recovery, Macaulay said management had carried out further work and the entire D2.4 million had been recovered. NAO responded that it was yet to confirm the claim, as supporting details and analysis had not been provided.
Macaulay assured the committee that the evidence would be submitted, and Hon. Darboe set February 25 as the deadline for submission and audit confirmation.
The committee also examined cases of dual salary payments to seconded officers, amounting to D215,866. The audit recommended that affected officers refund the monies and provide receipts for verification. Macaulay said the Accountant General’s Department had written to the Personnel Management Office to ensure timely updates on seconded officers and was working on a recovery strategy.
NAO noted the response but said the issue remained unresolved. Macaulay later told lawmakers she had personally contacted the two officers involved but had not yet received confirmation of repayment. She warned that if recovery was not made, letters would be issued to their current employers for immediate recovery or the officers would be summoned before the committee or the police.
The chair again fixed February 25 as the deadline.
Attention then turned to unpresented personal files. The audit found that out of about 200 sampled files, 69 were not submitted for review. Although management claimed the files were available, NAO reported that 50 files remained outstanding. The affected ministries were identified as Health and Basic and Secondary Education.
A representative from the Ministry of Health said fewer than 10 files remained outstanding from their side and outlined efforts to upgrade records, including digitisation with support from the World Bank. NAO, however, clarified that 21 files from the ministry were still outstanding. The chair directed that all remaining files be submitted by February 25.
The committee further discussed salary increments without promotion letters, initially valued at D4,415,694.48. NAO said verification reduced the unresolved amount to D480,738, linked to discrepancies between promotion letters and grades recorded on the NASDNA system.
Macaulay explained the variances and promised to submit the relevant documentation.
Issues surrounding transport and basic car allowances also remained unresolved, with NAO maintaining that approvals applied only to grade nine officers.
Hon. Darboe, concluded by directing that the Personnel Management Office provide clarification and documentation by February 25.
Source: The Point
