The Commission of Inquiry has recommended increased parliamentary oversight on government spending, according to its official report.

Since 2010, the Commission notes, efforts have been made to address areas where violations had been found to occur including the introduction of the Internal Audit Act, two Good Governance Acts and the creation of the Office of Project Management and Procurement.

However, the report added that the Commission was disappointed by the “slow rate of progress”, particularly with the OPMP.

“It is yet to be fully established and delay may be due to lack of political will or to bureaucratic reluctance to embrace change,” the report stated.

The report listed a series of recommendations, including enhancing parliamentary oversight of government spending, increased transparency and an urgent review of personnel and processes in the civil service.

Other recommendations included:

• Ensure that ministers and senior civil servants have more effective relationships;

• Improve transparency and strengthen safeguards against conflicts of interest;

• Improve the effectiveness of financial instructions;

• Clarify accounting officer responsibility;

• Strengthen the offices’ responsible for safeguarding the public purse;

• Hold civil servants responsible with regard to “ownership” of responses to the Auditor-General reports;

• Make government’s financial reporting more timely;

• Hold quangos more responsible.

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