#Article (Archive)

Nationwide government audit a good move!

Mar 22, 2017, 11:01 AM

The new Government has decided to embark on cleansing the civil service and security forces, through a nationwide audit it has planned.

It seems something is fishy somewhere, as it has been stated that the main objective of the exercise is to improve payroll integrity by ensuring that only staff working are on Government payroll.

In any case, the exercise is worth taking to ensure state coffers or funds are rightfully utilized, and corruptible practices with regard to salary disbursement are curtailed in government circles and the general system.

Many acts are associated with government payroll, one of which is salaries that are paid to ghosts and listed names of workers who are actually non-existent.  Over the months and years, huge amounts of state funds go down the drain into some pockets, to the detriment of citizens and national development.

This ought to stop, and one of the ways to do that is carrying out such general government staff audit exercises.

It must be noted that corruption comes in diverse ways. It could be graft and bribery, nepotism, putting square pegs in round holes for some selfish reasons, keeping or staying in one particular post for far too long, suppression of the promotion of certain workers or staff, paying salaries into names of ghost workers, among other corruptible practices in office.

These must be curbed, if the new government is to really properly utilize state funds and make a head way.

In the same vein, the Gambia Immigration Department has decided to stop the issuing of any ID card or passport until further notice, as the government embarks on “a comprehensive review” of the process of issuance of such documents.

These are all actions presumed to be taken to ensure that corruptible practices are curtailed in the system, which we think is a move worth taking, as it is geared toward cleansing the system of fraudulent acts inimical to national growth and development.

“Fighting corruption is not just good governance. It’s self-defense. It’s patriotism”

Joe Biden