Over 50 institutions face parliamentary scrutiny
DODOMA: A TOTAL of 54 public institutions are presenting their investment performance reports before Parliamentary Standing Committees over a three-week exercise aimed at strengthening oversight of public investments.
The exercise, which began on August 3, involves presentations before two Parliamentary Standing Committees. Twenty-seven institutions are scheduled to appear before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Investments (PIC), while another 27 will present before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts (PAC).
The committees are assessing the value and performance of public capital, as well as the implementation of the institutions’ strategic plans. As of Wednesday, four institutions had already submitted their reports.
They include Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL), Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB), Tanzania Electrical, Mechanical and Electronics Services Agency (TEMESA) and the Government Procurement Services Agency (GPSA). The committees expressed satisfaction with the performance of the four institutions.
The exercise forms part of Parliament’s oversight role in monitoring government investments through institutions and companies supervised by the Office of the Treasury Registrar (OTR). The OTR oversees 308 entities, comprising 252 public institutions and 56 companies in which the government holds minority shares.
The combined value of investments in the entities stands at 92.3tri/-. Acting Treasury Registrar, Ms Lightness Mauki, said the presentation of the reports provides Parliament with an opportunity to obtain a comprehensive assessment of the performance of public investments.
“The presentation of these reports forms part of Parliament’s oversight responsibility over government, including the management of public capital investments,” said Ms Mauki, who also serves as Director of Performance Management of Commercial Entities.
She said the reports enable Parliament to assess capital value, revenue and expenditure performance, profitability, balance sheet positions and the implementation of strategic plans, which are essential for accountability and good governance.
The presentations are conducted in accordance with Rule 11 of the Parliamentary Standing Orders, which mandates the committees to examine whether public investment projects are implemented efficiently and in compliance with applicable laws, procedures and business guidelines.
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According to Ms Mauki, the committees also examine reports on investments in public institutions and companies in which the government has shareholding.
She said the OTR coordinates the reporting process and ensures that the reports accurately and transparently reflect the actual performance of public institutions and entities, enabling Parliamentary Committees to make informed assessments and issue recommendations to improve performance.
The institutional presentations were preceded by the presentation of the Report on the State of Public Investment for the 2024/25 financial year before the PIC.
The report outlined the status of government investments within and outside the country, the distribution of investments among public institutions, non-tax revenue generated by public entities, loans extended to public institutions and companies, as well as government guarantees and grants.
The ongoing exercise is expected to strengthen accountability and provide Parliament with an opportunity to assess the performance of public investments and issue directives aimed at enhancing efficiency, transparency and the productive use of public resources.
