Auditor General stresses integrity in strengthening procurement

The Auditor General’s Office (AGO) has highlighted the need for integrity within public agencies to improve systems, particularly in procurement, during a meeting with the Parliament’s Finance Committee held Tuesday.

Auditor General Hussain Niyaz stated that while investigating and recommending corrective actions is essential, addressing issues at a systemic level requires a dual approach. He emphasised that procurement remains the area with the most errors, and strengthening procurement systems within state-owned companies and agencies is necessary.

“There are institutions where procurement systems are functioning appropriately, but others require reform,” Niyaz said.

He noted that improving procurement frameworks should take precedence over focusing solely on audits and investigations.

“It is essential to ensure that individuals with integrity are placed in critical positions, especially in procurement and accounting departments. Appointing individuals with prior allegations or suspicions undermines system improvement,” he added.

In its presentation to the Finance Committee, the AGO also shared updates on its audit work for the 2023 fiscal year. Key updates included:

The AGO also noted the scale of its annual audit workload, particularly in relation to local councils. While city and island councils are audited every year, village councils are audited once every three years. According to the AGO, 90% of audits for councils scheduled for review in 2023 have been completed and made publicly available.