PAC Wants MDAs to Seek Permission on Unplanned Expenditures

Public Accounts Committee of Parliament Chairperson Ken Kandodo Public Accounts Committee of Parliament Chairperson Ken Kandodo

The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament wants all Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies to first seek permission from Treasury, whenever they want to carryout expenditures that were not budgeted for.

In an interview with Zodiak Online, Committee Chairperson Ken Kandodo said in absence of such an arrangement chaos will continue in public expenditures leading to abuse of finances.

He was speaking after the committee met controlling officers from the Ministry of Trade over use of about Five Million Kwacha which was not included in the procurement plan for the Ministry in the 2017/2018 Financial Year.

"All MDAs must seek approval from the treasury if they want to cover costs that were not planned for. We will communicate to the Chief Secretary so that this should be a new requirement.

"The Committee fears that if there is no proper regulation then there will be chaos every Ministry or Department will be doing whatever they think is fit," Said Kandodo.

The Ministry Officials said the funds were used to procure furniture to enable installation of audio equipment which the ministry received as a donation from China.

Principal Secretary for the Ministry Ken Ndala said all laws bordering on public finances were followed in the process.

"There was money in the line item. The only thing that we did not do was that this was not included in the procurement plan.

“We always ask for an approval from the Treasury when we are procuring something which was not budget for," Said Ndala.

Read 1324 times

Last modified on Thursday, 19/03/2020

Login to post comments
Go to top
JSN Time 2 is designed by JoomlaShine.com | powered by JSN Sun Framework