Stop accepting excuses from agencies, govt told

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BY REBECCA KUKU
THE Government must stop accepting excuses from agency heads and start holding them accountable when they fail to submit their financial statements, says Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Richard Masere.
Masere said some state agencies failed to prioritise their financial statements as required by law.
“It is imperative that these agencies must provide financial reports in a timely manner for audit.
“Section 67 of the Public Finances Management Act is quite clear on this requirement,” he said.
Masere made this statement during the opening of the Audit Year 2023, last week.
He said quite often the Government overlooked the complacency of these state agencies due to the important roles they provide to nation building therefore, continued to fund these agencies even when their financial reports were delayed.
“It is long overdue for Government to take appropriate action against those in charge of state agencies, in accordance with the recommendations made in the report.”
Masere said the audit reports on state agencies must show that they had performed their functions and achieved intended outcomes and results.
“And the inclusion of late return of financial reports should include dismissal from office simply for failing to compile,” he said.
Masere also called on the Auditor-General, to use his powers under Section 5 of the Audit Act of 1989, to prosecute those found guilty of misappropriation, misuse or fraud.
“The upkeep of the financial books of these agencies must be captured as part of their key performance indicators/KPIs and measured against their contracts of the agency heads.”
He said the PAC supported the work of the Auditor-General’s Office to perform its constitutional functions to ensure there is accountability thus good governance is maintained over the use of public money and property of the State.