By Ramatoulie Jawo
The National Assembly Finance/Public Account Committee (FPAC) Tuesday convened its yearly briefing for Government Ministries, departments and agencies.
The event brought together accountants from various Government ministries, departments and agencies.
Hon Alagie S. Darbo, chairman of the committee said during the Fifth Legislature, Public institutions were submitting their activity reports and audited financial statements to their portfolio Select or Standing Committees for scrutiny.
However, he added that it was not yielding the desired results. There was no proper coordination on the reporting and in some instances, non-compliance with the law.
“The bureau of committees which is tasked by the Assembly to set the policy direction of Committee operations, met and resolved that moving forward; the scrutiny of all Public Accounts shall be the sole responsibility of the Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) except thirteen (13) Commercial State-Owned Public Enterprises whose accounts shall be submitted to and scrutinized by the Public Enterprises Committee (PEC),” he said .
The FPAC Chairman highlighted: “Within thirty days of adhering to its dictates. The resolution of the Assembly or adoption of any report of a Committee, in this case FPAC’s report. The Minister under whose portfolio the matter raised in the report or contained in the assurances or resolution fall, shall provide a reply to the Assembly. Furthermore, a Minister who fails to submit a report under this Standing Order shall be deemed to be in contempt of the Assembly within the meaning of section 75 (6) of the Constitution (misconduct in office).”
Alagie Mboow, Vice Chairman of the committee urged all institutions to do away with the manual accounting system because the world has passed that level.
He further called on the institutions who have not passed their reports for the past five years to do so.
The committee will on Wednesday start receiving reporters from various institutions.