PAC to audit State finances

The recently established Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has vowed to bring to book whoever embezzled, mismanaged or misused public finances in the recent past. The Committee chaired by long-serving lawmaker, Juvenal Nkusi, intends to follow up on the recommendations made in several reports, including the Auditor General’s, and initiate investigations into use of finances in all government parastatals. “We are currently at the stage of knowing exactly what we should do and how we should do it…we will mainly look at the four clusters of social, economy, justice, and good governance. All our work will mainly circle around public priorities,” he said. According to Nkusi, PAC may consider looking at recommendations of various financial audit reports. “This is just a tentative plan which is subject to change, but part of what we wish to look at include the implementation of recommendations in the audit report of the aid relief allocated to victims of disasters that affected four districts in Western Province - Nyamasheke, Nyabihu, Rusizi and Rubavu. We are also interested in following up the implementation of recommendations made in the parliamentary renovation report as well as Genocide Survivors Fund (FARG), among others,” said Nkusi. During the planning meeting, the vice chairperson of PAC, Evode Kalima, expressed concerns on the lack of proper follow-up and application of punitive measures on individuals who misuse or mismanage state funds. “Usually, reports expose areas where funds have either been mismanaged or embezzled, but there is little follow up. This is our time and chance to stand up and act,” Kalima said. The main responsibility of PAC is to analyse the report of the Auditor General of State Finances with respect to the use of the national budget and patrimony and preparation of draft recommendations within six months of the date of submission of such reports to the Plenary Assembly. Ends

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PAC to audit State finances