iTaukei Affairs Ministry Vows to Clear Audit Backlog by Year-End!

The iTaukei Affairs Ministry has announced that it will deliver the financial statements for all 14 provinces by the end of this year, covering transactions up to the year 2024. During a recent session with the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Sereana Matakibau, the Deputy Chief Executive of the iTaukei Affairs Board, discussed the ongoing efforts to clear a significant backlog in provincial council audits.

The backlog, which also includes audits not conducted since 1999, stems from the manual processing of transactions at the provincial councils. To address this issue, a taskforce was established in 2016 to expedite the auditing process, which has resulted in the completion of audits up to 2018 for all councils. Currently, efforts are focused on completing audits for the years 2019 to 2022.

Matakibau highlighted that one of the major challenges faced was the missing records from previous years, but improvements in record management have been observed following a review of job descriptions within the provincial councils. Furthermore, to enhance capacity and streamline operations, the minimum qualification requirement for recruits is now a bachelor’s degree, ensuring that future hiring aligns with this standard.

To foster continuous knowledge improvement, provincial treasurers participate in quarterly workshops, gaining access to systems and undergoing refresher training sessions. This educational approach aims to build capacity and competence within the provincial councils, laying a solid foundation for improved financial management and reporting.

This initiative not only aims to alleviate the backlog in audits but also reflects a strong commitment to enhancing financial accountability and governance within the provincial councils. Engaging in these reforms is vital for ensuring transparency and rebuilding public trust in local governance structures.

The overall outlook remains positive as the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs continues to take steps toward ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting, which is essential for fostering accountability and transparency in governance.