An audit by the Federal Auditor General uncovered additional irregularities totaling 8.2 million Br. According to Deputy Auditor Abera Tadesse, while some issues had been resolved after the audit findings, discrepancies amounting to 2.8 million Br remained unresolved. Federal auditors identified 3.9 million Br in uncollected funds, of which 2.5 million Br still required closure.

The audit detailed delays in depositing daily revenue, amounting to 5.4 million Br, with delays ranging from five to 130 days. Following the auditors' recommendations, cash held by the Ministry staff has since decreased substantially to 1.5 million Br, reducing deposit delays to a maximum of five days. The Ministry has also initiated digitisation efforts for payment processes.

Procurement irregularities represented another major concern. Nearly three million Birr worth of services, such as hotel stays and public announcements, bypassed standard procurement procedures. An additional 2.2 million Br of services and equipment was similarly bought without proper procurement processes, despite being planned transactions. Collectively, procurement outside the national electronic trade system reached 12 million Br.

Transport Minister Alemu Sime (PhD) defended these direct purchases, describing them as necessary due to urgency, security considerations for hotels, merger-related employee redeployment, and national defense needs. However, Deputy Auditor Abera strongly advised against continuing this practice, urging compliance with procurement standards.

Auditors also uncovered notable flaws in property management, including improper handling of vehicles and office equipment. Federal auditors discovered 68 expired printing cartridges and 113 vehicles improperly stored or disposed of without adequate documentation, some damaged due to prolonged storage. Seven former employees resigned without formally handing over assigned equipment, complicating accountability.

According to the Ministry's representative, Yigazaw Dagnew, some employees had relocated abroad or were difficult to trace, but disclosed legal actions were underway.

Several vehicles had documentation issues, while others had been in storage since 2007. The Ministry's officials described discrepancies in vehicle disposal, disclosing a total of 128 vehicles intended for removal. Of these, 63 were ready for disposal, 25 are undergoing procurement processes, 12 had been sold for 3.68 million Br, while 13 were up for sale. Minister Alemu disclosed that special vehicles would be donated to museums, while irretrievable ones would be sold as scrap.

Fuel consumption was another concern, as auditors noted the absence of standardised fuel usage guidelines. The Ministry affirmed that normalisation processes had already been implemented for 62 vehicles, with plans to include another 28 shortly.

Federal Auditor General Meseret Damete acknowledged recent efforts to address these issues, pressing for electronic procurement, timely fund collection, and transparent financial practices.

PUBLISHED ON [ VOL , NO ]

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