The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chaired by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Chernor R.M Bah has today 04th June, 2015 tabled its report on the ASSL audit of the management of the ebola funds, which had provoked heated debates in the country. The report contained the findings and recommendations of PAC, the proceedings that were followed during the course of the public hearings streamed live by SLBC radio and television, other media houses and the public were also in attendance.
Prior to tabling the report in Parliament, the Deputy Speaker highlighted some of the contraventions relating to sound fiscal public financial management systems in the GBBA of 2007; political interference; procurement and income tax provisions were flouted; sole sourcing; and no evidence to substantiate delegation of duties to subordinates; poor records management system among others. He also said that the Committee has strongly recommended the suspension of certain individual for six months without pay; and that Mr. Ibrahim Swarray should not serve as procurement officer in five government institutions for a period of five years; and encouraged the Attorney General to take necessary action; calling on other actors to follow suit.
After he had tabled the report, the Majority Leader of Parliament, Hon. Ibrahim Bundu read a short statement noting that the tabling today vindicates the role of Parliament in doing justice to the management of the ebola audit report procedurally.
The Minority Leader of Parliament, Hon. Dr. Bernadette Lahai who has recently been elected as Vice President to the Pan African Parliament said among other things, that the report be debated in tandem with previous PAC’s reports cognizant of the AG’s action on them; the report has clearly brought out systemic failures in the country; thus the need for human resource capacity and development; and called for huge investments in our systems and processes for effective functioning as in other countries.
In another development today, Parliament has debated and ratified six presidential nominees to serve in various high offices of State as contained in the thirteenth report of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service.
The following presidential nominees were approved through a collection of voices:
I. Mrs. Haddijatou Jallow – Member, Minerals Advisory Board;
II. Mr. Kalia Edward Sesay – Member, Minerals Advisory Board;
III. Mr. Melvin Comba C. Allieu – Member, Minerals Advisory Board;
IV. Mr. Samuel Beresford O. Weekes – Member, Judicial and Legal Service Commission;
V. Mr. Amadu Bona Ndoeka – Member, Board of Trustees, NASSIT; and
VI. Madam Gladys Bamijoko Branche – Board Member, Sierra Leone Airport Authority
As the Majority Leader called for speedy ratification of the presidential nominees; the Minority Leader challenged NASSIT for the late payment of retirement benefits and cited her former teacher whose retirement benefits were yet to be paid about a year ago; whilst underscoring the benefits that would be derived from e-government and e-parliament.
These nominees will assume their duties after they have subscribed to an oath administered by President Ernest Bai Koroma.
Department of Public Relations
Parliament of Sierra Leone
OAU Drive, Tower Hill
Freetown
