DFID Empowers Legislators on oversight function
The Department for International Development (DFID), in its support to the people of this country, has completed two days seminar organized for law makers. The seminar was held at committee Room No.1 and was a follow-up on a visit of members of the parliamentary public Account and Transparency Committees to the United Kingdom Parliament.
Deputy Leader of the majority All Peoples Congress Party, Hon. Mohamed Safian Kargbo, in his key note address before declaring the seminar opened, expressed his sincere thanks on behalf of parliament and people of this country to the United Kingdom Account Committee, noting that the U.K organized a study trip for legislators in Sierra Leone and the Gambia to the parliament of United Kingdom. He said, the study trip was meant to enable parliamentarians to know and understand the proper functioning of the UK Public Account Committee, He further said that financial management is a key element in poverty reduction. Hon. Kargbo continued that it is in place to build the capacity of the lawmakers so that they will be in a better position to effectively carry out their constitutional duties. “The seminar is a follow-up of a study tour of over ten days visit to the U.K, and I honestly believe, was profitable to the people of this country,†Hon. Kargbo said. On their visit to the House of Commons he went on, they saw the public committee at work, which according to him was enlightening and resourceful to their work at home. He continued that it is good for other colleagues from other committees to make similar visits in future. He told the gathering that their colleagues from the U.K were in the country to see whether the education and experiences they gained during their trip were practiced by them.
Deputy Auditor General, Tamba Momoh in his statement said, they in the Audit service committee were highly impressed with progress so far made, stressing that his Institution can now boast of better trained and qualified staff to professionally handle the daunting task ahead. Momoh assured his audience that they will continue to work with the Public Account Committee, adding that he is not only interested in producing reports, but to satisfy their clients as well. He noted that the seminar was timely, which according to him will prepare the law makers to perform their over sight function on Public Account. Momoh was very frank to state that his Institution has not been in the position to audit resources generated by the National Revenue Authority, adding that they have over the years been able to audit only 3% of NRA daily administrative expense. “Billions collected by NRA are not auditedâ€, Momoh said further adding that this was as a result of lack of capacity, trained and qualified staff to handle such daunting task.
Project Director, Murray Ross said, in a democratic society, PAC depends on the Audit service commission to prepare timely reports on Public Account, so also the Commission depends on PAC for action. He went on to state that the project was meant to capacitate legislators so as to effectively carry out their oversight work. Phil Duncombe, leading facilitator said, he was highly impressed and pleased with the work of the legislators after the study tour. Speaking on the objectives of the seminar, Duncombe stressed that its focus on participatory, forward-looking, realistic and sustainable. He further told the legislators that PAC must be in the position to explain Government policies to the people they represent, and should report to the government any criticisms roused by the people, which he said might not be directed against the Government but those involved in implementing projects for the people. In the contribution of Hon. Komba, Eric Koedoyoma noted that the study trip, coupled with the seminar is an eye-opener to them.
He went on to state that parliamentary a procedure involves process that one can only know the procedures through learning. He said, what they want in the U.K are now put in practice, noting their tour in the provinces to au fait their people on their work was very successful. “I hope and believe that this exercise will not go down the drainâ€, Hon. Koedoyoma charged. Group work discussion and questioning for clarification climaxed the seminar. Hon, Hassan Sheriff gave the vote of thanks, assuring the facilitators that they will make a difference this time around.Â
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