Yaounde, Cameroon – (African Boulevard News) – The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is losing almost $800 million every year due to numerous irregularities, according to an audit of the government’s payroll by the Inspection Générale des Finances (IGF).
The audit revealed that the DRC government has numerous fictitious employees who are collecting salaries. These employees have been found to be either dead, retired, or not working at all. The IGF’s report further stated that these irregularities have been going on for years, and those responsible for the misconduct have not been held accountable.
The DRC is one of the poorest countries in the world, and the loss of funds from its public treasury is a significant blow to its economy, which relies heavily on external aid. Corruption has long been a problem in the country, and the latest revelations indicate that more needs to be done to address the issue.
“This is a clear indication that the DRC government has failed to put in place adequate measures to safeguard public funds,” said Pierre Baluka, an anti-corruption campaigner in the DRC. “The authorities must take urgent action to ensure all those responsible for this malfeasance are brought to book.”
The IGF report recommended that the government take immediate steps to address the irregularities and put in place measures to prevent such occurrences in the future. It also suggested that an independent body be established to oversee government payroll and identify possible fraudulent activities.
The impact of the loss of funds from the public treasury cannot be overemphasized, especially at a time when the DRC is grappling with numerous social and economic challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, high levels of poverty, and inadequate healthcare.
“Every dollar stolen from the public treasury is a dollar less for essential services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure development,” said Dr. Fredrick Mwenge, a health economist. “The DRC government must urgently address this issue, as it has a direct impact on the country’s development.”
In conclusion, the DRC government must take immediate action to address the irregularities in its payroll system and put in place measures to prevent future occurrences. This will go a long way in restoring the public’s confidence in the government’s ability to manage public funds and provide essential services to its citizens.
