In Parliament… Four District Councils To Face PAC
The Public Account Committee (PAC),in the House of Parliament, yesterday, 23rd August 2018, summoned four District Councils to face the well and submit relevant documents relating to their expenditures for the 2015 fiscal year.
The Deputy Speaker had requested council officials to produce documents during a tour of the Public Account Committee to the provinces quite recently. The respective councils, according to Hon Segepoh Thomas, were unable to produce most supporting documents relating to their councils’ expenditure.
The Kambia District Council officials were unable to face the Committee when called upon recently, but the Committee has now summoned them to face Parliament on 12th September 2018.
In the case of the Port Loko District Council, the Committee asked them to produce their Financial Statement, Bank Statement, Demand Notes and Receipt Book for the 2016 Budget, which they did.
The PAC Chairman asked them to submit those statements and receipts to the Clerk of the House because the PAC will go through them for proper verification, while noting that they will be equally summoned to face Parliament if their financial documents are found to be faulty.
Tonkolili District Council was also summoned to give account of sewing machines that cost Le 20,000,000 for the Disabled Skills Center in Magburaka. The council should also account for one Toyota Land Cruiser with registration No ADP 096 which was not in the premises of the said council as at the time of the Committee hearing.
The Finance officer had told the committee that the issue of the sewing machines had been settledwhile the vehicle in question is parked at the Council. The PAC Chairman instructed that the Committee wants to see evidence of the vehicle in question either through a snapshot or otherwise.
The Bombali District Council officials were ordered by the Committee to refund the sum of fourteen million, seven hundred and ninety thousand leones (Le14, 790,000) because they were unable to justify a total of sixty one transactions mainly due to lack of supporting documentation.