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
