Public Accounts Committee doubts Treasury instructions validity
The Public Accounts Committee (Pac) of Parliament has doubted the strength of fiscal prudence instructions that the Treasury produces for ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
During a committee meeting with Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security officials on the Auditor General’s report for the year ended June 30 2016, members felt the controlling officers are either negligent or ignorant of Treasury instructions.
Treasury instructions are a set of rules that guide the financial management processes in MDAs.
Pac Chairperson, Alekeni Menyani, said Treasury instructions are clear that any violation of the same is a serious offence.
He, however, said controlling officers in some MDAs consistently fail to comply with instructions.
“That is when we raise that issue, to establish the extent to which Treasury instructions are still valid and relevant because we have a set of instructions that people can get away with, even without following them,” Menyani said.
He accused the controlling officers and the Chief Secretary to the Government, the parties given power to ensure that Treasury instructions are followed, for letting the country down by not enforcing the instructions.
“We were mandated by the Chief Secretary to the Government that, should we come across any pertinent issues, we should alert him in good time and this is one area in which we need to propose to him what the committee wishes to be done,” he said.
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