Auditors Slam Federal Gov’t For Unchecked Abuse Of Vehicle Privileges

Government officials are abusing the personal vehicle privileges granted to them by law, according to a troubling report from the Office of the Federal Auditor General.

Auditors say that ministers, state ministers, directors, and senior officials across government agencies routinely procure and use several vehicles at a time, with some even assigning publicly-owned cars to relatives.

The abuse also raises questions about fuel consumption at a time when prices are at a record high.

A Council of Ministers circular obliges federal officials to utilize standard, fuel efficient vehicles procured centrally and allotted to the various agencies. Offroad vehicles such as a Toyota Land Cruiser or Mitsubishi Pajero are limited to officials who are expected to conduct routine field visits during their work.

One official can access up to two vehicles depending on work-travel intensity.

However, auditors found that the rules set out in the circular largely go ignored. The Auditor General’s report reveals that officials routinely procure and use up to five vehicles at a time, while offroad vehicles are assigned to officials who are not expected to carry out field work.

The circular permits ministers and state ministers to use two vehicles—one for the minister and one for their family—but auditors say most ministers use at least three, if not four or five.

Some ministers allocate additional cars to their chauffeurs, personal employees, or even hold on to a reserve fleet, according to auditors.

It is common to see other officials assign vehicles and chauffeurs to relatives, contrary to the law, according to the audit report. It cited the Ministry of Justice as an example, where a dozen more vehicles than allotted are being used by unspecified officials.

Auditors say several ministries and institutions responded to their demands for an explanation with the response that they do not have exact data on their respective fleets.

The federal government does not have a working vehicle fleet management system, according to the audit report.

Auditors say that inquiries at the transport and logistics departments of several ministries revealed that some ministers use up to seven cars. Department heads told auditors they are unable to refuse access to the ministers owing to seniority.

These kinds of abuses are common at public universities as well, according to the Auditor General.

The government body responsible for enforcing the Council’s circular on vehicle use is the Federal Public Procurement and Property Authority (FPPPA). Three years ago, FPPPA planned to conduct an inspection of all ministries and institutions, and compile a report on the situation of government vehicles used by officials.

However, the inspections have not been conducted nor was a report compiled.

Auditors say FPPPA is doing nothing to prevent the ongoing abuse, and note that it lacks the tools to do so.

Fuel consumption is also worryingly high due to the abuse and the use of fuel inefficient vehicles, according to the report.

Of the 87 federal institutions that use the pooled vehicles, only 47 percent send fuel and oil utilization reports to the FPPPA. But the FPPPA does not cross-check the figures and enforce the rules, states the audit report.

Auditors say that taking legal action against officials abusing the vehicles and fuel remains impossible because the FPPPA has not conducted a legal audit of various institutions and the vehicles under them and reported to the Ministry of Finance as it is legally obligated to.

They argue that some ministries and institutions may not even be aware that they have to report their vehicle use.

The Auditor General has urged officials at the FPPPA to introduce a digitized national fleet management system, periodically conduct audits, and report abuses to the Finance Ministry.

The Auditor General wants to see the Authority undertake rigorous study and planning for policy making, to introduce a roadmap that precisely indicates the purpose and distance officials travel, and specifies the types of vehicles permitted along with the fuel, oil, and spare parts rations.