Mmegi

Precious thebes still slip through gov’t fingers

Ndaba Gaolathe..PIC PHATSIMO KAPENG
Ndaba Gaolathe..PIC PHATSIMO KAPENG

The Accountant General’s office lost P8.1 million in 2016 to “systemic fraud”, but a decade later, rather than some effort at recovery, authorities are still waiting for the “outsourcing of external forensic auditors to come up with an independent report”.

At the Veterinary Services Department, a former employee “promised to pay back” P230,442 stolen between 2010 and 2014. The former employee has been making the same promise over the years.

The latest troubling glimpse into the state of public finances is contained in the Accountant General's latest statement of government accounts, released last week. The report covers the financial year to March 2023 and indicates the continuation of many lapses in public finance oversight noted in previous statements.

Editor's Comment
Don't let FMD outbreak drag on

Acting Agriculture Minister, Edwin Dikoloti, is right in saying opening an export-ready facility whilst Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is still spreading would risk getting the whole country blacklisted before a single carcass leaves the door.A ban like that would break the already stressed nation. So, the postponement, painful as it is, is the right thing to do. The local economy is being squeezed from both ends. FMD has already slammed the door...

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