Arua Fails To Use Sh52m

By Ahmed AnguliboArua district council has expressed concern over the unused sh52m to be returned to the Treasury despite its failure to pay over sh700m in salary arrears to civil servants, especially parish chiefs.Presenting the local education committee resolutions to the council at the Arua Social Centre recently, committee chairman Lazarus Okojia said much of the unused funds were savings from unclaimed teachers salaries.“On unclaimed teachers salaries, the local education committee resolved that the secretary for education and sports should closely monitor the finances and report to council its expenditure,” Okojia said.The Oluvu sub-county women councillor and health and environment committee vice-chairperson, Rose Obiga, said it was shameful for the district to return unused money when it had over sh700m in salary arrears.The River Oli division councillor, Yasin Matata Buga, said the district had not paid civil servants and parish chiefs for one year.The district acting chief finance officer, Tom Candia Aliti, in a financial report to the chief administrative officer (CAO), dated August 5, said much of the unused sh52m were savings from salaries of staff, especially teachers and National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) co-ordinators.CAO Abdul Isodo told the council that the un-utilised funds were conditional grants. He said the funds to be returned after not being used timely were for water, ghost teachers, those with double names, teachers who have absconded and un-recruited NAADS co-ordinators. Ends