Resolution on the terminal report of the Committee on Audit and Public Accounts of the Pan-African Parliament

Jurisdiction: African Union (AU)
Date: 17 October 2019
Language: English
Type: Resolution

African Union

Resolution on the terminal report of the Committee on Audit and Public Accounts of the Pan-African Parliament

Published on 17 October 2019
Commenced
[This is the version of this document from 17 October 2019.]

THE PAN-AFRICAN PARLIAMENT,CONSIDERING Article 17 of the Constitutive Act of the African Union, which establishes the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) to ensure the full participation of the people of Africa in the development and economic integration of the continent;CONSIDERING also Article 3 of the Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community Relating to the Pan-African Parliament, and Rule 4 (a) of the Rules of Procedure of the Pan-African Parliament, which empowers the PAP to facilitate the implementation of policies, objectives and programmes of the African Union and to oversee their effective implementation;TAKING NOTE of the terminal report of the Committee on Audit and Public Accounts, October 2019, including the recommendations formulated therein, as well as the various observations made by the PAP Members during the Plenary discussions;NOTING WITH CONCERN the instability in the position of Clerk, the vacancy in the Office of the Clerk and the need for an independent Secretariat by complying with Rules 17 and 21 of the Rules of Procedure of the Pan-African Parliament vis-à-vis the relationship between the Bureau and the Office of the Clerk;NOTING WITH CONCERN ALSO the continued lack of implementation of several audit recommendations previously made by the external auditors, the AU Board of External Auditors as well as the Committee on Audit and Public Accounts;IN ACCORDANCE WITH Rule 5(b), (c) and (d) of the Rules of Procedure of the Pan-African Parliament, which empowers the PAP to, inter alia, organize debate, discuss, express an opinion, make recommendations and take resolutions on the objectives and on any matters relating to the African Union and its organs, Regional Economic Communities, Member States and their organs and institutions;

NOW HEREBY RESOLVES TO:

1.ADOPT the terminal report of the Committee on Audit and Public Accounts, October 2019 and all the recommendations formulated therein;

2.DIRECT the Secretariat to fully operationalize the Internal Audit Progress Committee which will engage all Heads of Units to facilitate and ensure timely implementation of all Audit and CAPA recommendations as well as providing for the organisational audit of the PAP to be carried out under the supervision of the CAPA;

3.URGE the Bureau of the Pan-African Parliament to ensure that qualified professional persons are appointed to vacant positions for the effective and efficient management of the Secretariat;

4.FURTHER URGE the Bureau of PAP to address issues relating to the high turnover in the Office of the Clerk by expediting the appointment of a Clerk to ensure stability and give strategic direction and coordination to the Staff, departments and for the smooth operations of PAP;

5.CONSIDER reviewing Rule 17 (a & b) of the PAP Rules of Procedures relating to the management and administration of the affairs and facilities of the Parliament;

6.ENCOURAGE the Bureau to remind the AU Policy Organs to take steps to expedite the revision of the annexes to the Host agreement between the AU and South African Government relating to the PAP;

7.REQUEST the Bureau to ensure that all audit recommendations are complied with so that the image of the Pan-African Parliament can improve vis-à-vis the AU Policy Organs;

8.FURTHER REQUEST the Bureau take the necessary measures to deal with issues relating to non-implementation of audit recommendations and budget implementation in order to avoid the sanctions;

9.REQUEST ALSO the Bureau to engage with the Policy Organs of the AU to get the 50% cut in the budget for MPs’ medical insurance restored and to ensure that the the relevant AU regulations, rules and policies provide to PAP Members benefits and entitlements due to "Elected Officials", including in relation to the travel class and allowances;

10.REQUEST the Bureau to hold personally and/or jointly accountable for USD140,143 the three individuals who were the trusties to the PAP Trust Fund.

Adopted at Midrand, South Africa17 October 2019

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