Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) of the National Assembly today conducted a rigorous review for consideration of the National Environment Agency’s (NEA) performance, uncovering significant lapses in governance and financial oversight between 2021 and 2023.
During the consideration of the NEA’s Annual Reports and Financial Statements, lawmakers expressed concern over the inactivity of the Agency’s Council. Records revealed the Council met only once in April 2021, a trend committee members argued undermines transparency and executive accountability.
Governance Hurdles and Legislative Fixes
NEA officials attributed the infrequent meetings to the Council’s current composition, which includes the President of the Republic, making scheduling a recurring challenge. To rectify this, a proposal is currently on the table to amend the NEA Act, reducing the mandatory meeting frequency from quarterly to biannually.
While officials confirmed that all outstanding meeting minutes have now been finalized and signed, FPAC maintained that documentation delays remain a bottleneck for effective oversight.
Financial Reconciliations Under the Microscope
The session also turned a spotlight on the NEA’s internal financial controls. Discrepancies in bank reconciliations and check allocations were a primary point of contention.
Reconciled D15,200 in outstanding checks have been successfully cleared. The pending D7,000 remains unresolved, prompting the committee to urge closer collaboration between the Agency and its banking partners.
FPAC emphasized that monthly reconciliation is non-negotiable to ensure the timely detection of financial errors or irregularities.
The Path Forward
Despite the criticisms, the committee acknowledged a positive trajectory in the NEA’s engagement levels compared to the 2014-2023 period as a whole, noting that emergency meetings were convened when critical issues arose.
To ensure sustained progress, FPAC has recommended that the NEA transition to a monthly reporting cycle. This move is intended to provide the National Assembly with real-time insight into the Agency’s activities and financial health.
The NEA’s legal counsel assured the committee that the Agency has already begun implementing corrective measures. “With these steps, we are confident the Agency will continue to elevate its operational and reporting standards,” he stated.
