Finance Ministry overspends

THE Finance Ministry, which is responsible for compiling the National Budget and allocating funds to individual ministries, has violated the State Finance Act by overspending its own budget by N$19,9 million during the past financial year, which ended on March 31 2006.

However, due to savings and under-spending in other divisions, the Ministry only used N$1,16 billion of the N$1,19 billion allocated to it. As with most other Government ministries, outstanding travel advances paid to officials remained a problem, as N$640 704 had not been paid back.”The subsistence advance suspense account of the Ministry reflects a balance of N$758 364, which leaves an unexplained difference of N$117 660,” Auditor General Junias Kandjeke noted in his audit report, tabled by Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila in Parliament last week.The annual contingency fund of N$150 million was almost totally depleted because of several bailouts totalling N$146,3 million.The Police Department received N$3,7 million extra to pay travel advances to its staff, plus N$34,9 million for “general under-funding” and another N$4,9 to cover a “shortfall on Department of Police expenses.”The amount paid out to the Police from the contingency fund came to N$43,7 million.The Health Ministry received N$44,9 million from the fund to pay for medicines and medical equipment.The State funeral of Nama Chief Marcus Kooper cost the contingency fund N$102 000.The National Assembly was also bailed out with N$901 027 to cover a “shortfall on expenses”.The Ministry of Finance also tapped from the contingency fund, as it required N$6 million to carry out a forensic audit at Oshakati.As with most other Government ministries, outstanding travel advances paid to officials remained a problem, as N$640 704 had not been paid back.”The subsistence advance suspense account of the Ministry reflects a balance of N$758 364, which leaves an unexplained difference of N$117 660,” Auditor General Junias Kandjeke noted in his audit report, tabled by Finance Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila in Parliament last week.The annual contingency fund of N$150 million was almost totally depleted because of several bailouts totalling N$146,3 million.The Police Department received N$3,7 million extra to pay travel advances to its staff, plus N$34,9 million for “general under-funding” and another N$4,9 to cover a “shortfall on Department of Police expenses.”The amount paid out to the Police from the contingency fund came to N$43,7 million.The Health Ministry received N$44,9 million from the fund to pay for medicines and medical equipment.The State funeral of Nama Chief Marcus Kooper cost the contingency fund N$102 000.The National Assembly was also bailed out with N$901 027 to cover a “shortfall on expenses”.The Ministry of Finance also tapped from the contingency fund, as it required N$6 million to carry out a forensic audit at Oshakati.