By Ragan M. Conteh
The public hearings on Monday 12th February 2021, in the Hall of Makeni City Council, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas, raised issues relating to the Auditor General’s Report of 2019 and referencing two audit queries to the Anti-Corruption Commission for further investigation.
The issues so referred relate to Falaba District Council in respect of revenues in 27 receipt books, totaling Le 142, 400,000, not accounted for, and irregularities with the monthly general cleaning incentive, where Le388, 800,000 was not accounted for with support documents. This has revealed several discrepancies.
Submitting his opening remarks, the Chairman of the PAC spoke on the audit process with regards the annual accounts of Sierra Leone, the production and tabling of its Report to Parliament through the Public Accounts Committee to investigate, ascertain correctness or otherwise and recommend to Parliament regarding issues raised in the Auditor General’s Report of 2019.
Speaking on the role of the ACC and Police, during the investigative process by the PAC, he warned against volunteerism, insisting that lying under oath and presentation of forged documents would amount to contempt of Parliament and perjury punishable by seven years.
Also speaking on human rights, he advised officials in Councils not to do business with service providers whose documents have expired.
Recognizing the efforts of staff, supporting the PAC and thanking officials from the ACC and the Police in attendance, he observed that “the country has been going in circles, which is why we must 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 precedence over any other matter, except with its own consent.”
In light of a parliamentary summons for the past Chief Administrative officer of Karene District Council, with a medical certificate and other officials of the said Council in Freetown on 28th April, 2021, the PAC has also directly summoned the 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 the retrieving of property arrears, to the tune of over Le1 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.