The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday, 19th November 2025, engaged key stakeholders from local councils at the Parliamentary conference room, New Administrative Building to discuss resolutions arising from the 2023 Auditor General’s Report, following the committee’s oversight activities.
Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, Chairman of PAC and Deputy Speaker of Parliament, noted that the Committee’s review revealed several fiscal management challenges across councils. However, PAC successfully recovered over two million dollars in financial irregularities identified in the 2023 Auditor General’s Report, primarily from withholding taxes and other statutory deductions. He added that 80% of audit issues had been resolved during the period under review.
Hon. Conteh highlighted challenges with the PETRA financial management system, widely used by Local Councils, noting that the service provider managing the system is currently out of the country, creating significant hurdles in revenue projection and mobilization. He observed that only two councils exceeded their own-source revenue targets and issued a strong warning that councils failing to meet revenue targets in the future risk losing government allocations.
The Chairman also expressed concern over frequent staff transfers, emphasizing that abrupt movement of council personnel undermines effective operations. Stakeholders were encouraged to openly discuss issues and propose workable solutions.
PAC Secretariat Head, Augustine Sesay, read the resolutions adopted during the deliberations on the 2023 Auditor General’s Report as follows, PETRA System Inefficiency
PAC will engage the PFMRD, Ministry of Finance, Chief Administrators, Finance Officers, Chairpersons, and Mayors regarding PETRA system rollout. Concerns were raised over the Ministry paying for ten system users while only one or two officials have actual access.
Councils’ low revenue performance prompted PAC to summon the Fiscal Decentralization Division (FDD), CAs, FOs, Chairpersons, and Mayors to discuss a new policy linking future government allocations to the revenue each council generates.
Councils were advised to prepare line-by-line PowerPoint presentations showing projected vs. actual revenue from all streams (mining royalties, licenses, business registration, timber, market dues, etc.) Provide detailed breakdowns of central government and donor funds received, including amounts spent on administrative and devolved functions, for real-time performance monitoring.
PAC directed that Local Council staff remain in their assigned posts until all audit queries are fully addressed, with no transfers permitted beforehand Councils must compile comprehensive lists of outstanding taxpayer arrears. PAC will issue letters to councils, requiring defaulters to settle dues or risk garnishment of bank accounts under Sections 8 and 9 of the Finance Act 2022.
Director Lydia Kargbo of the Public Financial Management Reforms Division (PFMRD) reported that 19 councils currently use the PETRA system, highlighting its functions and challenges. Deputy Auditor General Morie Lansana noted persistent deficiencies, including frequent server downtime.
Hon. Aaron Aruna Koroma, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, also observed that the system has not been functioning effectively, while stakeholders acknowledged poor IT infrastructure as a complicating factor. Director Kargbo confirmed that a new PFM Smart System is expected to be rolled out in 2026 to address the shortcomings of PETRA.
The meeting further resolved that PAC, the Accountable Governance for Basic Service Delivery Project, and PFMRD will collaborate to address equipment needs for the rollout of the new system. Discussions also addressed challenges relating to own-source revenue and arrears owed to councils. it was unanimously agreed that a follow-up engagement will be held to address all outstanding issues ahead of the 2026 fiscal year.
Credit – Parliamentary PR
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 24th November 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
