Ngangan bets on system

 By ADAM MERA

THE Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) will be rolled-out to big spending government departments such as Health and Education this year, acting Finance Secretary Dr Ken Ngangan says.

Ngangan said that despite skepticism by the Public Accounts Committee. 

The IMFS is a computer-based accounting and financial reporting system that is jointly funded by the Government and donor agencies.

Ngangan told PAC chairman John Hickey the system had been rolled out to the three central agencies – Finance, Treasury and National Planning departments and the rollout to other departments would be completed by the end of this year.

“The systems have been fully imbedded into the organisation and it is functioning as expected,” he said.

“I have full confidence in the system as it is in the central agencies.”

Ngangan said the installation of the system would follow as soon as a metropolitan area network (MAN) was in place. 

MAN is a computer network in which two or more computers, communicating devices, networks which are geographically separated but in same metropolitan city are connected to each other.

“Once we have that, we can begin on the process of rolling out the programme into other government agencies.”

He added that the system was fundamental in the efficient deliverance of the 2013 and 2014 budgets as well as the closing of the 2013 government accounts.

“We have this year for the first time opened the 2014 financial year in record time.”

Ngangan said the advantage of the system was that senior management at the central agencies would be able to monitor expenditures throughout the year instead of waiting for the quarterly reports.

“Senior officers will have access to the country’s financial information every day.”

Hickey said the PAC was skeptical as evidence before them showed little progress and loss of stakeholder confidence.

However, Hickey said he accepted Ngangan’s view and they expected more reports on the progress of IMFS before convening the next inquiry.