Prosecutor general accuses PM of violating law in management of public finance

Prosecutor general Osman Guled has denounced the Prime Minister for what he termed as co-management of the budget against the law.

In a memo addressed to the PM Sunday and copied to parliament among other organs of the state, Guled said the Prime Minister’s hand in the management of the national budget not only went against the constitution but his job description.

“Article 100 of the Constitution sets out clearly the roles of the Prime Minister. Besides this is the principle of collective responsibility among other offices such as that of the President, Ministers and Parliament,” said Guled.

Without alluding to any cases, the prosecutor general said interference on the budget management process amounted to corruption. “If corruption is circumventing the law, interference and working against the law is also corruption,” the prosecutor observed.

Parliament approved a $267 million national budget April allocating the Prime Minister’s office $5,593,199.

Guled called on all government institutions to work within the law noting failure to respect the law has been Somalia’s major challenge over the years.

In a report last month, the Financial Governance Committee called for prudent fiscal management of public finances to avoid wastage and pilferage while promoting best governance practices.

“FGS needs to place much stronger controls on the payroll, as otherwise gains made in increasing revenue and reducing funds leakage will be fully absorbed by a rising wage bill,” the report recommends.

It also called for strengthening of the Public Finance Management bill to ensure sufficient and effective controls in management of public finances.