The Auditor-General’s Office (AGO) of Singapore has released its annual report, highlighting critical lapses in procurement and contract management across several public agencies, including the National Parks Board (NParks) and the Ministry of Education (MOE). These lapses have led to significant financial overpayments, totaling approximately S$2.2 million.

In the case of NParks, the AGO identified a potential overpayment of S$1.9 million due to issues such as improper valuations and payments for work orders. This included full payments for incomplete or unexecuted work, duplicate payments, and inaccuracies in assessing the work completed. Following the audit, NParks announced efforts to recover S$290,000 of the overpayment by May 2024 and plans to recoup the remaining funds in the coming months. Internal investigations found no evidence of fraud or malintent among staff, though disciplinary actions were taken for these oversights.

Similarly, the MOE faced challenges in managing three school construction contracts, leading to an estimated overpayment of S$317,000. The AGO flagged concerns regarding valuation discrepancies for contract variations and payments for work not executed according to contract specifications. As of now, the MOE has recovered S$68,000 and aims to reclaim the rest by year-end.

The audit also noted deficiencies at the Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) in managing maintenance contracts, resulting in payments for services that were either not performed or delayed. Additionally, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) was criticized for inadequate monitoring of contract performance, which led to payments for unmet contractual obligations. Despite these findings, BCA stated that it confirmed necessary works were completed based on maintenance schedules and evidence of work performed.

Other agencies, including Sport Singapore (SportSG) and Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), were also flagged for revenue management issues, with SportSG facing lapses related to admissions control that may lead to revenue loss. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) was identified for weaknesses in its inventory and records management practices, with discrepancies noted between inventory records and actual physical counts.

The AGO’s thematic audit also examined parenthood support measures managed by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA). Although the audit noted good practices in grant administration, potential irregularities, including fraudulent activities and system misuse under the Government-Paid Leave Schemes and the Baby Bonus Scheme, were observed.

The AGO’s report emphasizes the need for public sector entities to enhance their procurement, contract, grant management, and revenue collection processes to prevent such lapses in the future.