The House has today debated and adopted two reports and posed a series of questions for oral answers to the EAC Council of Ministers. The Report of the Committee on General Purpose on the EAC Annual Report for 2011/2012 and that of the Committee on Accounts on the on-spot assessment of the Internal Audit Systems of the EAC institutions sailed through.
In its Report of the On-spot Assessment of the Internal Audit Systems of the EAC institutions, the Committee on Accounts calls for strengthening of the internal audit systems, adequate staffing and adherence to the international auditing standards. The Report presented by the Chairperson of the Committee, Hon Straton Ndikuryayo, was as a result of visits to three institutions of the EAC; the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organisation (LVFO), the Inter-University Council of East Africa (IUCEA) and the Civil Aviation Safety and Oversight Agency (CASSOA).
On LVFO, the findings reveal that the Republics of Rwanda and Burundi are yet to become members of the organisation. The Committee thus recommends that the Republics of Rwanda and Burundi accede to the LVFO Convention of1994.
The Committee further notes existing discrepancies between harmonized terms and conditions of service of staff members, procedures, regulations and retirement procedures. It calls for the harmonization of all related procedures and policies with those of other EAC Organs and Institutions. The Assembly is also appealing for increased level of funding to LVFO to enable it meet its commitments on time.
At the IUCEA, the Committee was informed that understaffing within the institution presented major challenges. Much to its credit, IUCEA however, has established an Internal Audit office managed by a Principal Internal Auditor and an Internal Audit Officer. The two officers monitor and evaluate management policies, regulations, procedures and systems.
The Accounts Committee is however urging the IUCEA management to give all audit queries the due consideration deserved. It further recommends to the Assembly to urge the EAC Council of Ministers to ensure proper functioning of the Audit and Risk Committee and the total independence of the Internal Audit units as provided for in the Charter.
On CASSOA, the Committee notes that the institution remains under funded yet its responsibilities have grown over time. The issue is compounded by constraints on the part of the Civil Aviation Authorities who fund CASSOA as well, and this has resulted in a ceiling of funds made available to the Agency.
The Committee recommends to the Assembly to urge the EAC Council of Ministers to engage Civil Aviation Authorities in EAC Partner States to waive the budget ceilings and to also implement the proposal to levy USD 70 cents on every airline passenger.
The levy has recently been proposed by the CASSOA Technical team as an alternative funding mechanism. However, some Partner States with bigger volumes of passengers are yet to accept the implementation of the proposal.
At the same time, the Accounts Committee wants the EAC Council of Ministers to revise the composition of the CASSOA Board of Directors to ensure accountability and implementation of recommendations of the Board in the EAC Partner States.
When the Report came up for debate, Hon ShyRose Bhanji remarked that despite the delays in remissions to LVFO by Partner States, the organisation also needed to be more accountable to its stakeholders and to the public.
‘East Africans need to know how their resources are been expensed. I request my colleagues (EALA Members) to task the Council of Ministers to ensure all those who do not keep adequate records are punished, she said. We must embrace accountability and become serious in service delivery,’ the legislator remarked.
Hon Bhanji further sought to know from the Council of Ministers about the alternative strategies to funding beyond donor contributions. Hon Pierre Celestin Rwigema noted that internal audit was an important component of management that should be encouraged. On CASSOA, the legislator noted that its Board of Directors “cannot for all purposes” be self-policing. ‘The Council thus needs to look into the matter urgently’, he said.
Hon Susan Nakawuki stated that more independence on the part of Internal Auditors was necessary. She cited the case of the IUCEA where the Council of Ministers needs to intervene immediately. Hon Nakawuki further made a strong case for segregation of duties at the institution. “ During the visit, the Committee observed that the IUCEA Accountant is a signatory to all accounts of the institution’. This is improper she said.
Hon Judith Pareno noted that EAC institutions were ailing and barely surviving. “Is it that we are not paying much attention to the institutions? Why are we underfunding them? The Community must give due attention to its Organs and Institutions”, she added.
Hon Jeremie Ngendakumana stated that oversight was necessary for the stability of organisations. Internal audit units support management by looking inwards and offering the desired advice. It is supposed to undertake day to day operations including detecting weaknesses and irregularities and recommending remedial solutions to strengthen institutions. The EAC Council of Ministers should ensure all the Organs and Institutions are equipped with the necessary resources”, he noted
The Counsel to the Community, Hon Wilbert Kaahwa remarked that Rwanda and Burundi needed to accede to the Convention for the Establishment of the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization (LVFO), 1994 other than amendment of the same.
“The procedure of amendment is lengthy and since Rwanda and Burundi have acceded to the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC, this comes with all other Protocols and Conventions. The Convention is recognized by the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community (Article 9(3)). I advise that EALA considers urging the Council of Ministers to expedite the accession of both the Republic of Rwanda and the Republic of Burundi to the Convention for the Establishment of the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization 1994”, Hon Kaahwa added.
Other Members who rose in support of the Report were Hon Celestin Kabahizi, Hon Christophe Bazivamo, Hon Valerie Nyirahabineza, Hon Yves Nsabimana.Holding brief for the Chair of the Council of Ministers, Hon Shem Bageine, assured the House that the Council would consider all the pertinent matters with the management of the said institutions. “I am deeply concerned and we will definitely clean up all the misgivings – including where necessary, disciplinary action” Hon Bageine said.
On funding, Hon Bageine said the funding issue was been reviewed alongside with the matter of the Institutional Review. “The process has been on for year but we have the commitment to complete it and shall be reporting to the Summit of EAC heads of State in November this year for their final consideration,” he added.
THE EAC ANNUAL REPORT 2011/12
The Report of the Committee on General Purpose observes that the Annual Report of the EAC should be timely and its content made satisfactory to the Assembly given its oversight role. In this regard, it wants future Annual Reports specifically customised and removed away from the template of a general report. In that way, the Annual Report shall provide sufficient information, detail and analysis for the Assembly to fully make informed judgement on the performance of the Organs and Institutions as well as on the status of the Community.
The reporting standards and expectations include, reflection on challenges met and future outlook in the implementation of EAC Activities and programmes; qualitative and quantitative outputs and presentations on the status of the Community as well as instructive statistics, financial statements and summaries relating to the EAC Development Strategy.
The Annual Report of the EAC for year 2011/2012 was tabled before the Assembly by the Chairperson of the Council of Ministers on 23rd January 2014 in Kampala, Uganda and consequently committed to the Committee on General Purpose for consideration. The Committee met in Arusha on March 2-7th, 2014, to consider the said Annual Report.
The Committee particularly wanted to establish whether the standards and expectations as recommended while considering the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 reports on 18th April 2013 in Kigali, Rwanda were met.
At debate time Hon Nderakindo Kessy called for better presentation in terms of factual information and objectivity while Hon ShyRose Bhanji said the Annual Report must meet the acceptable levels of standards of the Assembly.
Hon Dr. Odette Nyiramilimo and Hon Nancy Abisai also supported the motion.
DOWNLOAD: REPORT ON THE EAC ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2011/2012
DOWNLOAD: ORAL ANSWERS TO PRIORITY QUESTIONS - 6TH MEETING OF THE 2ND SESSION OF THE 3RD ASSEMBLY
ENDS
For more Information, contact:
Bobi Odiko,
Senior Public Relations Officer;
East African Legislative Assembly;
Tel: +255-27-2162122
Cell: +255 787 870945, +254-733-718036;
Email: bodiko@eachq.org
Web: https://www.eala.org
Arusha, Tanzania
