Lawmakers on the Public Accounts Committee (Central Government) have cautioned the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development against retaining senior officials in acting positions beyond the legally stipulated six-month period, warning that the practice erodes accountability and weakens institutional leadership across government.
Officials from the ministry, led by Deputy Secretary to the Treasury Patrick Ocailap, appeared before the committee to respond to queries raised in the Auditor General’s report for the 2024/2025 financial year.
During the session, Members of Parliament observed that prolonged acting appointments create staffing gaps, delay critical decision-making, and point to broader governance and management shortcomings that require immediate attention. They stressed that failure to regularise appointments within the legal timeframe undermines effective supervision and service delivery.
In his response, Ocailap explained that delays in confirming substantive appointments stem from an earlier Cabinet resolution that proposed the abolition of director-level positions across ministries, as well as an ongoing government restructuring exercise. He indicated that the transition process has affected the timely confirmation of officers into permanent roles.
The committee has since directed the ministry and all other entities that will appear before it to provide comprehensive lists of officers currently serving in acting capacities. The move is part of Parliament’s strengthened oversight efforts aimed at enhancing staffing compliance, transparency, and accountability in public institutions.
