By Binta Jaiteh & Awa Sanneh
Authorities of the National Agency Against Trafficking in Person has appeared before lawmakers to present the agency’s financial and activity reports for the year ended 31st December 2017, 2018 and 2019.
But auditors said they have to consult the National Audit Office first to see whether NATIC can be fit for auditing.
Speaking during the session, Honorable Allagie Jawara, a member of the national public enterprise committee, said: “this is a constitutional requirement that section (175) sub section (5) says public enterprise is mandatory to submit its financial year. Provided the appropriate committee of national assembly to extend the time for the submission of the reports as we all know we inherited a backlog in 2014.”
“There is a lot to be done and we are trying to go according to what the constitution says, we will not like to go to the plenary and members that entrusted us with this committee to ask question and nothing will be answered,” he said.
He said they are now in the hands of the auditors; the auditor general has the power to hire auditors to do some of their activities, he said.
For her apart, Toulie Jawara Ceesay, executive director said they will be presenting reports on the year ended 31st December 2017, 2018 with regards to 2019 the activity is ready but the financial statements are yet to be completed. The 2018 and 2020 activity reports are ready and they submit annually to ECOWAS Commission Trafficking Unit at the end of each year.
According to her, every year the agency does an activity report from January to December each year they normally receive a letter from national audit office and in the past that an engagement letter for the exercise to be conducted.
She disclosed that, that has not happening as at 2019 and 2020, it may also be an oversight that NATIC didn’t submit. She added that maybe they have to send letters to give them a date.
Musa Jallow from national audit office added that the 2019 financial statements is yet to be received by management but they have them in their operational plan for May and June.
Honorable Halifa Salah, chairperson of the public enterprise committee said they are not dealing with an ordinary institution and its integrity should not be put into question in any way and that is why the issue mentioned is in the best interest of the institution.
“Talking about audited account which supposed to be presented since 31st March 2020 and are almost closer to another 31st March 2021 that is not good for the institution and the auditor general,” he said.