Last week, we began a discussion of the Auditor General’s 2014 report which was laid in the National Assembly two Thursdays ago. It was referred to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for detailed consideration. However, the PAC is yet to meet under the 11th Parliament and has its work cut out since its last report was in respect of 2009. Because of the backlogged situation, the PAC had to combine its examination for the years 2010 and 2011. It is not clear what stage the PAC is at and how soon the report will be finalized. With 2010 and 2011 out of the way, the PAC still has to carry out its examination for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014. That’s a tall order.
After finalizing its examination of the 2010-2011 public accounts, the PAC may wish to consider examining the most recent audited public accounts i.e. 2014, since timeliness is indispensable to any form of accountability and more so, public accountability. The PAC could allocate a month for continuous examination of these accounts before proceeding with the backlogged years. Given the situation we are in, if the PAC examines the public accounts in chronological order, the problem with the backlogged years will not be resolved because each year that elapses is a year that is added to the backlogged situation.
Under the Westminster system of government which we inherited, it has been the convention for the PAC to be chaired by a member of the political Opposition, usually a former senior Minister of the Government. Media reports indicate that
