Responding, Ousman Ceesay, Secretary General at the Office of the President, said approval for additional works amounting to D2.9 million was cited in OP files, adding that management was strongly convinced all variations were approved by GPPA.
He told lawmakers that further searches would be conducted to locate the remaining approvals.
However, Babucarr Jallow from the National Audit Office (NAO) said only one approval reference was submitted for review, covering three additional works. He noted that five other approvals, amounting to over D4.4 million, were not provided before the audit report was finalised, leaving the issue unresolved.
Following exchanges on timelines, the committee granted OP until 6 March to submit all outstanding documents.
Lawmakers then examined audit queries on justified payments relating to air-conditioning works at the Office of the President.
Ceesay, explained that one payment related to the change from split-type to cassette-type air conditioners, while a second payment covered additional pipes and fittings needed for installation.
The NAO disagreed, stating that GPPA approval was granted for the change to cassette ceiling air conditioners and did not include additional pipes and fittings. Auditors maintained that the two payments were identical in nature and should not have been separated, as the approval did not explicitly mention piping.
Committee members acknowledged that the change in air-conditioning type had been established but questioned whether the piping was an integral part of the cassette system or required separate approval.
The NAO insisted that documentation must fully align with GPPA approvals, regardless of installation needs.
The committee agreed to allow NAO to carry out further verification and report back.
Attention then turned to inflation in contract prices, with auditors flagging overpayments amounting to D9.8 million and recommending clearer contract terms and regular reviews.
Ceesay said the project, initiated under a previous regime, was upgraded in scope and specification to meet the needs of the current government.
The NAO said the response was not supported by evidence and the finding remained unresolved. OP requested additional time to submit documents, prompting the committee to set a deadline for the first week of March.
Chairperson Darboe stressed that all documents must be submitted within the agreed timelines to allow the committee to conclude its audit review.
