More than 12,000 duplicate payments worth $630,100 were made during the second round of Fiji’s COVID-19 Cash Assistance Program, according to findings highlighted in the Compliance Audit Report.
The Standing Committee on Public Accounts, in reviewing the report, noted that auditors identified 12,602 duplicate payments in Round 2 of the assistance program.
While recovery processes were subsequently introduced in Round 3, the report found that 62 duplicate payments worth $3,100 remained unrecovered, pointing to continuing weaknesses in payment controls.
The committee has called for stronger system controls to prevent duplicate applications and payments.
It also recommended authorities “ensure full recovery of overpayments and maintain transparent reporting of recovery actions.”
Concerns were also raised about reconciliation processes for cash disbursements.
According to the report, reconciliations did not contain documented sign-offs from those preparing and reviewing them.
This meant auditors could not confirm that the reconciliations had been independently prepared and reviewed within the required timeframe.
The committee recommended that documented sign-offs by preparers and reviewers be mandatory for all reconciliations to demonstrate independent preparation and timely review.
The findings relate to the COVID-19 Cash Assistance Program, which was delivered over five rounds and distributed more than $226 million in assistance.
Round 1 provided $90 each to 118,000 applicants, while recipients in Rounds 2 and 3 received $50 each.
Payments increased substantially in the final two rounds, with eligible recipients receiving $360 each.
Round 4 covered 294,924 recipients and distributed about $105.7 million, while Round 5 provided assistance to 241,347 applicants, with approximately $87.5 million distributed.
Overall, more than one million applicant payments were recorded across the five rounds as Government progressively expanded financial support during the COVID-19 period.
