In February 2024, the Ombudsman Commission conducted an own initiative investigation into the delay in payments of government scholarships to a tertiary institution by the education department concerned. The outstanding payments were for the 2023 academic year and part components of the 2022 academic year.
The Commission commenced necessary inquiries with the concerned department to ascertain the reasons for the delay in payment of funds. The Commission also inquired on when the outstanding payments would be made available to the tertiary institution.
On 8 October 2024, the relevant authority of the concerned department responded to the Commission and clarified that payments made under this particular government scholarship scheme are based on approved budgetary allocation for each academic year and processed in compliance with the guidelines in the relevant legislation.
The relevant authority further advised that the department concerned undertook a meticulous audit of all transactions to ensure that public funds are utilized according to their intended purposes and to uphold the integrity of the scholarship program hence the delay in the payments.
As a result of the Ombudsman Commission’s intervention, the concerned department expedited all payment processes and settled the outstanding payments for 2022 and 2023 in accordance with the government budgetary allocation of March 2023 to 2024.