Correspondent|AUDITOR-GENERAL (AG) Mildred Chiri has ordered for the recovery of close to US$500 000 that was corruptly awarded to senior National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) employees as transport allowance at a time they were also receiving monthly fuel for their government bought vehicles.
At least 20 NPA employees double dipped when they received $24 000 each as transport allowance despite having been allocated official motor vehicles and monthly fuel coupons.
In a damning assessment at the affairs of the authority mandated to prosecute offenders on behalf of government, Chiri expressed concern over wasteful expenditure through unethical practices at the NPA.
“I observed that the authority had violated Public Service Commission Circular Number 5 of 2011 which stipulates that employees who have been issued with personal motor vehicles should not be paid transport allowances,” she said in the latest report tabled in the National Assembly last week.
“It was noted that 20 employees of the authority received at least $24 000 in the form of transport allowances and also received monthly fuel.
“If employees who were issued with official motor vehicles and receiving fuel for such mode of transport were paid transport allowances as well, the action could result in double dipping and wasteful expenditure. I recommended to the authority to cease the payment of allowances to officers who had been issued with personal vehicles.”
The NPA accounting officer responded insisting that the payment of transport allowances would stop if those officers choose to continue receiving fuel allocations.
“(By February 2018) the authority had not implemented Chiri’s recommendation as the payment of transport allowance to employees issued with personal vehicles as well as receiving fuel allocation continued during the 2017 financial year,” Chiri said.
“The accounting officer indicated that the issue had continued because the board had not been able to seat and deliberate on that issue.”
In evaluation of the response, Chiri said the accounting officer should effect recoveries since the regulations are clear on what should be done.
If justice is to be seen to be done an investigation and adjudication of misconduct should be constituted, according to the provisions governing the NPA Act.
“Subject to section 23, any case involving misconduct or suspected misconduct on the part of a member (other than the Prosecutor-General) of the Authority shall be investigated, adjudicated upon and, where appropriate, punished by the Board or by such person or authority as may be prescribed,” the Act reads.
“If the Prosecutor-General advises the Board that a member of the Authority who has been confirmed as a member under this Act is found to have committed such an act of misconduct as may justify the member’s discharge from the Authority, the Board shall appoint a disciplinary committee…”
M&T