House appreciates Semera University for audit findings correction

• Debre-Birhan University gets praises, correction tips

House appreciated Semera University for its correction measures based upon the 2017/18 audit findings summary of auditor-general.

The standing committee for government expenses management and supervision affairs realized this in a recent visit it paid to Semera with representatives from stakeholders such as the Ministry of Finance and Economic Collaboration, Procurement Agency, Auditor-General and from the Ministry of Science and Higher Commission.

The Committee verified the receipt-based revenues and expenses management of the University along with monthly balances cross-checked with the bank working together. The avoidance of un-procedural over-time payments is also welcomed by the committee.

The committee also forwarded correction feedbacks such as the failure to have timely balance sheet for payments and incomes in the University, not deducting income tax from Indian instructors, low number of experts in the internal audit section of the University and the poor sanitation in the dining rooms as well as the rest rooms.

President of the Semera University, Adem Borri (PhD), on his part greeted the committee for all the feedbacks. He added, though the University runs its teaching-learning process in peace; the budget limitation hindered its infrastructure endeavours. As well, the electricity and water-flow interruptions are posing problems to the University; he explained.

Similarly, the Debre-Birhan University being visited by the same body has harvested praises and correction feedbacks from the committee.

His excellence Ato Jemberu Molla of the committee, in his presentation about the visit summary to the University said; the efforts exerted by the Debre-Birhan University to act as per the audit findings summary of the 2017/18 fiscal year’s findings of the auditor-general are worthy of gratitude.

“Hence, the University ceased payments unauthorized by the board. The income and expense balances are backed by legal receipts. The dining rooms are neat. The care centre for infant children is standardized. Moreover, the students lounge appears good which relieves some academic tensions of the students”, Ato Jemberu elucidated.

Yet, the committee throw some tips for correction measures on the over-time payment variances to instructors at the same level. The failure to deduct the 2 per-cent income tax as immediately as possible in addition to the lack of proper balancing of the ledger account regarding the per-diems for research purposes are suggestions forwarded to the University to take into consideration and correct itself.

Debre-Birhan University President, Nigussie Taddese (PhD) on his part said; the University is doing every possible thing to act as per the indications directed by the audit summary. Yet, the budget shortage, the pool based procurement system and the new JEG (reallocation of employees) posed problems to the University; he disclosed.

The finance director of the University, Ato Fekade Haillemichael elaborated; the University is still trying to collect the 16 million Eth Birr, which wasn’t collected on the right time. The finance directorate pays not the advertisement and other payments which aren’t authorized by the board of the University, he said.

         Translated by Asrat Addisu

      House reporter