On Tuesday the 7th June 2022, the Finance and Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly held its annual briefing session with government Ministries, Public Enterprises and Agencies to the highlight the consideration of the committee in relations to its operation and oversight role over public institutions, establishment, mandate and terms of reference.
The chairman of the Finance and Public Accounts Committee in his briefing statement reiterated the functions as apportioned to it by virtue of section 109 (1) of the 1997 Constitution and the current revised Standing Orders of the National Assembly to regulate all matters in respect of public finance and accounts.
During the 5th legislative tenure, the current operational arrangement was that public institutions submitted their activity reports and audited financial statements to a portfolio select or standing committee for scrutiny despite, this was not bringing forth the desired outcome as far as public finances are concerned. The process lacked proper coordination in reporting and most times noncompliance with the laid down rules. Accordingly, the bureau of committees tasked by the Assembly to set the policy direction of the Committee of Operations resolved that, the scrutiny of all public accounts of all Ministries, Departments and Agencies is solely the responsibility of the Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) except for 13 commercial state owned enterprises who shall submit their financial and audit reports to the Public Enterprise Committee (PEC). The FPAC reserves the right to request any documents from institutions under their mandate or visit any institution in the exercise of their oversight functions failure on the side of these institutions may warrant sanction as the committee sees fit and necessary.
The FPAC of the 6th Legislative Body shall commence its oversight sessions sitting as per the Assembly calendar from June 20th 2022- October 30th 2022 of which it will consider the audited accounts and the financial statements of the Government of the republic of the Gambia, all public agencies, departments and autonomous institutions, councils, tertiary education institutions and all public hospitals.
At the peak of the briefing the FPAC took time to outline key procedures, the mandate and responsibility of the committee but also opened room for questions and clarifications from Ministers, departments and agencies. Questioned regarding the problems of submission of updated audited reports after 3 or 6 months as recommended by the Public Finance Act and other relevant laws, pending financial reports from previous years, timely notice of meetings with MDAs.
Questions arose regarding the Ministries and institutions under their purview and their time for appearing before the Finance and Public Accounts Committee for Ministers and other heads of institutions, the committee expressly reiterated that in writing to summon government agencies and parastatals, it will be written with sufficient notice the reason for the summon and the office answerable to the committee.
The FPAC equally recommended Ministries, Departments and Agencies to conform with the financial compliance indicators and ensure the submission of audited financial accounts. It is also their recommendation that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs to ensure all budget allocations be expressly outlined to show the amount allocated or sub vented to each institution to allow for easy reconciliation and scrutiny of the statement of accounts by the committee.