MZHEA officials are not saving state money at all, over 100,000 euros for travel abroad

Economic Development Ministry officials have exceeded spending on travel tickets abroad. Travel contracts abroad have projected 30,000 euros per year, while in 2017 alone, 114 thousand and 076 euros have been spent.

“Spending on travel tickets abroad has marked exceeded their planning and contracting. The contract is projected at $30,000 per year, while in 2017 alone, 114,076$” has been realised, says the National Audition Office report.

Expenses this minister for travel have exceeded them in proportion to their planning.

“The ministry has frame contract “Air travel services for the needs of MZHE”, for 36 months (from date. 23.03.2015 to 23.03.2018), which was prior to the change/fulfilling of the procurement law. In Article 3.1 of the contract, the value of the contract is determined to be approximately $30,000 per year. However, it was not until 2017 that the contract was paid worth 47,280 or 57% more than the value set in the contract. Moreover, by the date 13,04.2017, the ministry has been negotiating with the OE for the exploitation of the AQPE4 contract, and in this contract, payment for tickets worth 66,828. Exploitation of the AQP contract has begun indefinitely the deadline of the MZHE individual contract with the OE. Furthermore, in the AQP contract, the service price per unit was $1.27, which was higher compared to the preliminary contract of 10,00000001cent5 per unit”, says the report, broadcast Indexline.

This report points out that overcoming such expenditures increases the risk of not being made for the purposes of the organisation, in this case the Ministry.

While the use of the AQP contract without completing deadlines in the preliminary contract increases the risk of contractual obligations, the contract in this case was also economical and negatively impacts the value of money.

In addition, officials of this ministry in some cases have not reasoned out the expense of official trips.

Under administrative regulations, the form for official travel must be met and join the written reasonableness approved by the leader of civil servants, as well as the agenda of the official meeting.

The audience has noted that three cases are missing sleep bills. While on 11 occasions travel testimony (boarding pass) is missing, as well as the reasonableness of travel was not appropriate in most cases.

Also, the travel application form has not been signed by the staff official and the official form for calculating expenses for official travel has not been used.

Moreover, the official trip to Turkey, worth 996m, was made for the former ministry official, who at the ministry is engaged in volunteer work after retirement age. Even though according to regulations for civil servants who do volunteer work after retirement, coverage of their expenses is not envisioned.

The audience stresses that the lack of travel evidence and improper reasonableness regarding official travel is contrary to the rules in force and increases the risk that such expenditures are not meant for the right purpose.

In addition, the payment for volunteer officials has no support in legal regulations.

It is not the first time these rules of official travel are not respected by ministries. This is a finding that is constantly identified in various reports, like this of the audience.