By BUUMBA CHIMBULU
GOVERNMENT has constituted a steering and technical Committee to spearhead the reforms in its payroll management.
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This is to ensure the payroll is managed in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations, Finance and National Planning Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane told Parliament yesterday.
He said this in his ministerial statement on the report of the Public Accounts Committee on the report of the Auditor General on the audit of Government payroll for the financial years ended December 31, 2017 to 2021.
Dr Musokotwane said the constituted committee had so far introduced payroll workflows that segregated the various processes of payroll management.
“It has also coordinated capacity building activities to ensure that officers involved in the management of payroll are abreast with all laws and regulations: and continue to coordinate the monitoring and evaluation of payroll management,” he said.Among the issues raises in the report were failure to update the establishment register, failure to reconcile payroll monthly reports, unaccounted for officers, delayed conclusion of disciplinary cases, irregular payment of salaries and allowances.
On failure to update the establishment register, Dr Musokotwane said Government had made interventions that had enhanced the control environment in the management of payroll system.
He said this had resulted in an updated establishment register for all ministries, provinces and agencies.
On failure to reconcile payroll monthly reports, he said: “Government has now given each controlling officer access to monthly payroll reports so that they are able to reconcile the payroll. The Ministry of Finance and National Planning is monitoring the reconciliation of the payroll every month and has so far observed the adherence to this regulation.”
Dr Musokotwane also said Government had withheld salaries for misplaced officers until they were identified by relevant ministries.
After the identification by the ministries, he said, there were supposed to write to the ministry of finance and National Planning for the salaries to be paid.
“This exercise is ongoing,” Dr Musokotwane said.
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