The 2023 Report by the Office of the Auditor General on the public accounts has disclosed that 93 persons are occupying government quarters in Region Four though they are not entitled to this.
The report tabled in parliament earlier this month said that circularized Instructions state that for the occupation of Government Quarters, Public Servants are required to pay rent of 10% and 12% of their salary for unfurnished and furnished accommodation respectively, except where entitlement to rent free Government Quarters had been previously approved, as a condition of service.
“Examination of a list presented, revealed that there are 177 Government Living Quarters owned and controlled by the Regional Administration, of which, 146 are occupied by officers of the Region, thirty-one are vacant. However, with respect to the 146 living quarters occupied by officers of the Region, forty-four were entitled to living quarters as stated on the official list submitted and ninety-three were not entitled. In addition, nine did not indicate whether occupants were entitled or not, rent was only being paid by ten employees”, the report said.
Physical verification is still ongoing, however, no building numbers were stated on the official list submitted, and no physical building number is stated on buildings, as a result, it is very difficult to identify these buildings, the report stated.
Further, a concrete flat building with two living quarters were physically verified at the Hauraruni school compound. One of the living quarters was occupied. However, this living quarters could not be verified to the official listing provided.
The Head of Budget Agency acknowledged this finding and said that the Regional Administration is in the process of compiling revised list. The Audit Office recommended that the Regional Administration take steps to ensure that: (i) only Officers entitled to Government Quarters are accommodated there; and (ii) all outstanding amounts for rent are collected and deposited into the Consolidated Fund.
Government quarters were also a problem in Region Three.
Audit examinations conducted revealed that there are ninety-six government quarters owned by the Regional Administration, of which forty-five are occupied and fifty-one are unoccupied.
“The Regional Administration failed to provide the relevant records to determine whether the occupants of sixteen of the occupied buildings were entitled to rent free quarters or the reason for their non-payment of rent. In addition, it was observed that twelve persons who were not entitled to Government quarters were occupying the premises. Two of the twelve persons were written to vacate but to date they are still residing there.
The Head of Budget Agency said that the occupants were given permission to utilize Government Quarters due to urgent need. Two occupants were written to vacate the premises-however one responded with a lawyer’s letter.
The Audit Office recommended that the Regional Administration take steps to ensure that: (i) only Officers entitled to Government Quarters are accommodated there; and (ii) all outstanding amounts for rent are collected and deposited into the Consolidated Fund.
