The National Assembly’s public accounts committee (PAC) has been hard at work in recent weeks hearing how taxpayers’ money has been misused under the watchful eye of designated public servants.
The PAC is a body within a legislature whose role is to study public audits, invite ministers, permanent secretaries or other ministry officials to the committee for questioning, and report on their findings subsequent to a government budget audit.
The main function of the committee is to ascertain whether the money granted by parliament has been spent by government within the scope of demand.
And the powers of the PAC? It serves as a check on the government especially with respect to its expenditure bill. Its primary function is to examine the auditor general’s report after it is laid in parliament.
This way, the committee examines cases involving losses, nugatory expenditure and financial irregularities.
When any case of proved negligence resulting in loss or extravagance is brought to the notice of the committee, it calls upon the ministry or department concerned to explain what action, disciplinary or otherwise, it had taken to prevent a recurrence.
However, we rarely hear of any kind of action being taken against those fingered in any form of excesses.
It’s well and okay to interrogate public servants on their role in the misuse of public funds, but we would equally like to see action taken on the PAC’s recommendations.
After all, a report has value provided it is properly followed up.
