TEN officers from the Office of Censorship have graduated as the first recipients of the Department of Finance’s new blended online learning program on the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).
The ceremony marked a dual achievement for the Office of Censorship, as the first national agency to complete the online program, and for the Department of Finance, which successfully rolled out the new training initiative.
Department of Finance Secretary Mr. Samuel Penias said the initiative aligns with the government’s vision to build a more capable and professional public service.
“The Office of Censorship is the first agency to be trained through this online template and learning method. The Public Finance Management Act is the foundation of sound financial governance in government agencies,” Mr. Penias said.
He stressed that every public servant must understand PFMA requirements on transparency, accountability, integrity and proper use of public resources. “Training is key in all organizations to sharpen the ability to understand and apply the correct way of doing business.”
By completing the course, officers have strengthened their capacity to apply PFMA principles in daily work and promote good governance within their organization, he said.
“The way forward is for each agency to train staff on what applies to their daily work. The Department of Finance must drive this training to support effective planning, budgeting, expenditure control, procurement and financial reporting. This will contribute to improved service delivery,” Mr. Penias added.
He commended the Finance Training Division for delivering the program through the online blended platform. “This demonstrates our commitment to digital transformation and continuous professional development, enabling public servants across the country to access quality training regardless of location.”
Chief Censor Mr. Jim Aban said the training will help officers adapt to changes and uphold accountability. “Through this two week intensive PFMA training, our officers will learn to promote accountability, ensure transparency and prevent misuse of public funds.”
Mr. Abani noted the Office of Censorship operates on less than K10 million annually but still complies with all requirements from Finance, National Planning and Treasury. “This training will help us be more competent in practicing sound financial management.”
Mr. Abani concluded by expressing his gratitude on behalf of the office of Censorship for the Training and support received from the department of Finance.