The Ministry of Finance, led by Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury, Ramadan Ggoobi, has taken a firm stance against accounting officers who have allowed irregularities in recruitment and salary payments within government institutions, leading to persistent issues such as salary shortfalls and payroll irregularities affecting public servants.
Following recent revelations of payroll discrepancies, the Ministry of Finance engaged the Office of the Auditor General to conduct a special audit aimed at addressing these issues.
The audit uncovered a range of irregularities across various government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, including the presence of ghost workers on payroll, overpayment and underpayment of workers, as well as instances of improper recruitment procedures.
During the audit process, challenges were encountered in verifying some staff members, particularly those who were abroad at the time. The Auditor General recommended that the Ministry of Public Service undertake a thorough verification process on a case-by-case basis to rectify these discrepancies.
Ramadan Ggoobi, addressing reporters on financial matters, emphasized that he now possesses a list identifying accounting officers responsible for recruitment and payroll irregularities. He pledged to take decisive action against these officers and their technical staff involved in unauthorized recruitments, particularly those conducted against established freeze directives during the audit period.
“In this country, there is a tendency for people to behave as if there is no authority, no guidance, no plan, no government, no state. People do whatever they want to do. I hope this will stop, beginning with this financial year,” Ggoobi remarked.
To ensure prudent management of the payroll, Ggoobi announced a series of measures to be implemented:
- The Ministry of Public Service will close the window for adding new staff to the payroll system. Any additions will require prior approval from the Ministry of Public Service, confirming the adequacy of the wage bill.
- District Service Commissions must provide evidence of Ministry of Public Service authorization for new staff requirements.
- Shortfalls resulting from unauthorized recruitment by accounting officers will be deducted from unconditional non-wage grants.
- Any accounting officer found liable for unprofessional conduct in recruitment and payroll management will be held personally accountable.
Ggoobi also highlighted that the upcoming financial year’s wage bill is projected at Shs. 7.513 trillion, which includes provisions for staff recruited but not yet included on the payroll.
The Ministry of Finance aims to enforce strict adherence to payroll management guidelines to curb irregularities and ensure efficient resource allocation within government institutions.
