#National News

‘The internal audit dept is ignored’ Ex-KMC audit boss

Oct 2, 2024, 10:59 AM | Article By: Ali Jaw

Former head of the Internal Audit Department at Kanifing Municipal Council, Basirou Njai, has told the Local Government Commission of Inquiry that the internal audit department is not given its due.

Njai, who began working in the council in 2007, provided various documents, including an appointment letter, confirmation letter, promotion letter, and salary upgrade letter.

However, he rubbished claims that he was merely overseeing the position, saying he was the most senior person in the audit department after the departure of the former director, Ebrima Fofana.

Njai testified that there was no handing over done to him, and there were no incentives given to him for the position.

He maintained that the department had a vehicle during Fofana's tenure, but it was taken away when he left, which made things difficult for them.

The department, he added, had 15 markets to investigate and faced difficulties in producing reports, adding that he paid fares for staff to go to fields and markets to ensure the reports were available.

He thus affirmed that the environment was not favourable for them as auditors

He stated that the Internal Audit Department was far from the main Council office, as it was located at Kanifing along the hospital road.

He stated that even to get payment vouchers was a problem as they had to travel from there. “We have to look for lift and other means, like bicycles or to sit behind riders [referring to motorcycles] to make sure we get to the head office.”

He explained they were promised a space in the new KMC building, but during the allocation, they were told to stay at the multi-purpose center near the Kanifing Hospital. He said he forcefully occupied an office and refused to vacate despite the demands that he should.

He claimed that the internal audit is not respected and he was labeled as a problem-maker. He also provided the Commission with many documents pertaining to a host of issues.