KUWAIT CITY, Jan 29: In an effort to improve transparency, strengthen financial controls, and combat corruption or negligence, the Minister of Education, Eng. Sayed Jalal Al-Tabtabaei, has announced the formation of a fact-finding committee to investigate why thousands of administrative decisions with financial implications have remained unimplemented over the past years. These unaddressed decisions have led to the discovery of financial debts totaling approximately 12 million dinars that were never collected for the state treasury.

This move comes in response to repeated reports and information received by Minister Al-Tabtabaei regarding accumulated debts from both current and former employees in the Ministry of Education. These outstanding debts represent a significant waste of public money. In light of this, the Minister directed his office's inspection and audit team to verify these claims and prepare a comprehensive report. The team, in collaboration with the Director of the Financial Department and his staff, conducted field visits and audits that uncovered serious violations, including more than 100,000 unimplemented administrative decisions from previous years. These decisions have led to considerable financial obligations that remain uncollected by the Ministry’s treasury and significant unpaid dues to employees, marking a clear breach of government rules and regulations.

According to the ministerial decision issued by Al-Tabtabaei, the fact-finding committee will undertake a number of tasks, including identifying administrative decisions with financial consequences, verifying that the Financial Affairs Department has received these decisions, and reviewing the ministry's financial and administrative records. The committee will also have the authority to summon and investigate relevant employees to determine their responsibilities for failing to implement these decisions.

In addition, the committee will establish an operational system to guide its work and may seek the assistance of experts from within the Ministry to help achieve its objectives. Once the investigation is complete, the committee will submit its findings and recommendations to Minister Al-Tabtabaei, who will take appropriate legal action based on the results.

Minister Al-Tabtabaei has emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to reforming its administrative and financial systems in order to improve internal operations, enhance public service, and ensure fairness among employees. He stressed that the Ministry will continue to monitor performance and implement strict measures to ensure compliance with professional and ethical standards.

The Minister also reaffirmed his commitment to safeguarding public funds as a vital part of the state’s resources. He stated that these funds require legal accountability and that all necessary actions will be taken to recover them in accordance with legal and administrative frameworks. Al-Tabtabaei emphasized the importance of improving financial resource management to prevent similar violations from happening in the future.

According to the Minister, accountability and the protection of public funds are crucial to building public trust in the Ministry. He highlighted that safeguarding public funds is not only a legal obligation but also a national and moral responsibility. This responsibility requires dedicated efforts to enhance integrity and transparency within the Ministry. Furthermore, he reiterated that the rights and financial dues of employees are non-negotiable, and that strict oversight of all Ministry transactions is an absolute duty.

Al-Tabtabaei made it clear that any employee found negligent or involved in administrative violations will face legal consequences, including possible referral to the Public Prosecution if necessary. Such actions, he said, violate the standards of financial and administrative discipline.

In conclusion, the Minister affirmed his commitment to applying transparency and accountability across the board, ensuring that all actions are taken in the spirit of fairness and justice. He expressed his intention to take all necessary legal measures to protect public funds, streamline the Ministry’s work processes, and ensure proper governance of administrative and financial procedures. Al-Tabtabaei urged all Ministry employees to prioritize the preservation of financial rights, safeguard state resources, reduce waste, and contribute to achieving financial sustainability while preserving national assets. He emphasized that the Ministry would spare no effort in making the required positive changes to prevent the recurrence of such violations in the future.