By: Kebba AF Touray
The Management Development Institute (MDI) has requested for an extension from the Members of the Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) of the National Assembly to submit and present their activity reports and financial statements for the pending years under review.
The Institute made this request on Wednesday, 24April 2024, during their appearance before Members of FPAC for the presentation of their said report as was initially scheduled.
Fatou A. Barry, the Deputy Director of MDI in a communique addressed to the Committee, told FPAC that they have received their notice dated 8th April 2024 for them to appear for the presentation of their activity report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31st December 2021.
“The Institute has completed both reports and statements for 2021 and 2022. However, our auditors are yet to finalize the work on the financial statements and we kindly request for a 60-day extension from the initial scheduled date for presentation, from your esteem committee,” she told FPAC.
The extension, she said, will allow the auditors to finalize the auditing process for both the 2021 and 2022 financial statements for submission, as directed by the Committee.
Haruna Fatajo, the Principal Accountant at MDI, said they are also confronted with backlogs and are trying to address them.He informed FPAC that the Institute is also confronted with manpower resources which he said has constrained their objective in sending their 2023 report. However, he appealed to FPAC that within two months,they will be able to present all the reports because the manpower constraints have been addressed.
Hon Alhagie Mbowe, the Vice Chairperson of FPAC reminded the MDI Management that it is a statutory provision that they submit their financial statements at least 90 days after the end of the financial year.
“We have seen that you are dealing with 2021 and 2022 meaning that 2023 is just round the corner. So we will give you more time so that you can clear everything regarding your 2021, 2022 and 2023 financial reports,” he said.
He proposed that instead of the 60 days requested by the MDI Management, the Committee will consider giving them 90 days so that they can clear all the backlog issues.
The National Assembly Committee consequently agreed and gave the MDI Management until September 2024, so that they can reappear and present their activity reports and audited financial statements for the fiscal years 2021, 2022 and 2023 respectively.
