April 13, 2021
By: Audrey R. John
During the public hearing on Monday 12th April 2021 in conference Hall of Makeni City Council, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon.Segepoh Solomon Thomas referenced the Auditor General’s query of 2019 that recommended to the Anti- corruption Commission to further investigate local councils that fraudulent and discrepancies in their utilization of devolved funds.
The specific highlight was made involving the matter of Falaba District Council regarding revenue not accounted for 27 receipt books to tune of le 142,400,000,and irregularities with the monthly general cleaning incentive to the sum of me 388,800,000 with relevant documents detailing serious discrepancies.
The Public Accounts Committee Chairman said that at end of every financial year the Auditor General releases its report on the finding of Ministries, departments and Agencies(MDAs) and such findings are tabled before Parliament.
He said it behooves the Public Accounts Committee performing its constitutional mandates of overseeing all MDAs bordering on the queries of the Auditor General Report in order for them to investigate and interrogates the issues raised.
Deputy speaker warned against lying under oath and presentation of forged documents which is tantamount to perjury and contempt of Parliament, which amounts to maximum imprisonment of seven years jail term
The Deputy Speaker assured all and sundry that they should feel free and stay calm in their responses to the Committee. He reassured that no one will be subjected to undue pressure and their right trampled upon when responding to the Committee. He added that it is no more business as usual for Local Councils to engage in any business with any company that are not registered with the appropriate authority.
PAC has summoned both the Ministry of Finance and Local Government Ministry together with the Councils in Parliament on the 28th April 2021 for further hearing
Also speaking on human rights, he advised officials in Councils not to do business with service providers whose documents have expired.
He used the occasion to recognize the efforts of staff supporting the PAC and thanked officials from the ACC and the Police in attendance. He observed served: “the country has been going in circles, the need for us to come together and do something different to change the narratives of the country positively”.
Before releasing officials from Kambia District to attend to an audit by the European Union, the Deputy Speaker duly noted that “parliamentary summons take precedent over any other matter, except with its own consent”.
In light of a parliamentary summons for the past CA of Karene District Council with a medical certificate and other officials of the said Council in Freetown on 28/04/2021, the PAC has also directed summoning Ministry of Finance to provide an explanation for direct payment of sitting fees and allowances into the accounts of absentee councillors without guidelines.
Speaking on retrieving of property arrears to the tune of over Le 1 Billion and the Valuator who died with the password to access the needed data in Tonkolili District Council, improvement of drinking water, the Public Accounts Committee has ordered the said Council to close all its dormant accounts and bring to speed all NASSIT payments for staff in that Council.