THE Auditor General’s Report on accounts of the Republic for the financial year ended December 31, 2020, has revealed that 65 officers under the Ministry of General Education were introduced on the payroll and paid salaries in amounts totalling K1,737,345 without appointment letters.

The report has also disclosed that 182 officers at 10 stations were paid salaries totalling K13,429,447 but were not known by the respective head of stations.

The report revealed that as at August 31, 2021, the funds had not been recovered.

“Terms and Conditions of Service for the Public Service No. 4 (b) states that except where authority to make appointments has been delegated by the Service Commission, no appointment should be made without prior approval of the Service Commission. Contrary to the Terms and Conditions of Service, 65 officers were introduced on the payroll without appointment letters and were subsequently paid salaries in amounts totalling K1,737,345. As at 31st August 2021, the funds had not been recovered,” the report read.

“During the period under review, salaries totalling K13,429,447 were paid to 182 officers at 10 stations. However, a head count carried out in April 2021 revealed that the officers were not at the respective stations and were not known by the respective heads of stations.”

The report stated that 10,079 officers at 36 stations were paid salaries in amounts totalling K674,680,385 from pay points that were different from their physical stations.

“Cabinet Office Circular No. 13 of 2019 stipulates that Controlling Officers should ensure that all employees under their respective Ministries, Provinces and Agencies are placed in their designated duty stations. Contrary to the circular, there were 10,079 officers at 36 stations who were paid salaries in amounts totalling K674,680,385 from pay points that were different from their physical stations. As at 31st August, 2021, the anomalies had not been corrected,” the report stated.

The report also stated that 67 officers in Muchinga were irregularly paid housing allowances totaling K636,692.

“The Public Service Management Division Circular (PSMD) No. B 24 of 2013 stipulates that housing allowance should be paid to officers not accommodated by government in standard/pool houses through the payroll. Contrary to the circular, 67 officers who were accommodated in institutional houses at four stations were irregularly paid housing allowances in amounts totalling K636,692. As at 31st August 2021, the anomaly had not been corrected and the funds had not been recovered,” the report stated.

The report disclosed that allowances in amounts totalling K2,524,057 were paid to 208 officers who were not entitled to receive the allowances as their work stations did not qualify for payment of such allowances.

“Terms and Conditions of Service for Public Service No. 166, read together with Public Service Management Division (PSMD) Circular No. B6 of 2010 requires an officer serving in an area declared to be in a rural and remote area to be entitled to receive rural and remote hardship allowances at rates as may be determined by government from time to time. Contrary to the Terms and Conditions of Service and the circular, allowances in amounts totalling K2,524,057 (Rural Hardship – K1,591,600 and Remote Hardship – K932,457) were paid to 208 officers who were not entitled to receive the allowances as their work stations did not qualify for payment of such allowances,” the report disclosed.

“Further, 77 officers at five stations who were entitled to rural hardship allowance in amounts totalling K1,075,247 were instead paid remote hardship allowance in amounts totalling K1,325,183 resulting in an overpayment of K249,937. As at 31st August 2021, the anomalies had not been corrected and the overpayments had not been recovered.”

The report stated that Chongwe District Education Officer was placed on a wrong salary scale

“Chongwe DEO during the period from April 2017 to August 2021, an officer who was entitled to receive salaries in amounts totaling K275,286 was instead paid K414,885 due to being placed on a wrong salary scale resulting in an over payment of K139,599. As at 31st August 2021, the anomaly had not been corrected and the funds had not been recovered,” the report stated.

Meanwhile, the report revealed that three officers who had been paid salaries in amounts totaling K396,782 were absent from work purportedly on medical grounds from January 2016 to December 2020 but there were no medical records to support their absence.

“Terms and Conditions of Service for the Public Service No. 60 (a) and (b) requires that an officer who is absent from duty without leave for a continuous period of ten or more working days, should be liable for dismissal and should not be paid a salary for the period he/she was absent from duty. Contrary to the Terms and Conditions of Service, 21 officers at eight stations who absconded from duty for periods ranging from 11 to 44 months had not been separated from the Service and were irregularly paid salaries in amounts totaling K1,322,280 during the period under review,” stated the report.

“In addition, three officers who had been paid salaries in amounts totaling K396,782 were absent from work purportedly on medical grounds during the period from January 2016 to December 2020. However, there were no medical records to support their absence. As at 31st August 2021, the anomalies had not been corrected and the funds had not been recovered.”