Funds earmarked for community benefit must be used for that purpose and not used along family lines, Chief Ombudsman Ila Geno said this yesterday.
Speaking at the National Development Forum at Parliament House yesterday, Mr Geno made several recommendations including the advertisement of budgets by each Members of Parliament and involving public to monitor projects.
The Chief Ombudsman said that funding for districts whether it be discretionary and non-discretionary funds were immaterial but must be for community benefit and not only through family line including death and bride price.
He made the recommendations including:
*Advertise the expenditure and what it was for – so public can go and check if the asset exists;
*Involve the Public in the monitoring and evaluation of whether budget funds are properly utilised;
*Use professional bodies (certified practicing accountants – CPAs) to better monitor expenditure and release of funds;
*Ensure the gatekeepers are properly remunerated so as to avoid the temptation to break the law and create risks;
*Publish the names and salaries of all gatekeepers; and
*Use civil society and NGOs more often to monitor expenditure.
Meanwhile, Public Accounts Committee Secretary Repi Rambi told the forum that PAC inquired into six major government departments including National Museum and Art Gallery and Finance.
He said a total of 160 referrals were made by PAC to appropriate government agencies including the Ombudsman Commission, Public Prosecutor and police Fraud Squad requesting further investigations.