Auditor General takes

Auditor General Niyaz Ibrahim has taken a ‘short vacation’ at a critical time, after an Amendment Bill to the Audit Act, requiring the appointment of a new Auditor General within thirty days, was ratified by President Abdulla Yameen on Thursday.

Niyaz replied to an SMS from Sun Online following his absence from work today, that he wanted to spend time with the family and would return to work a few days later.

He did not mention when he would return to work.

The thirty-day period for the appointment of a new Auditor General will expire on 28 November.

Spokesperson for the President’s Office Ibrahim Muaz Ali said earlier today that it has not yet been decided when applications would be called for the post of Auditor General.

The amendment to the Audit Act states that the President shall nominate an individual for the post of Auditor General within thirty days from the day the bill is ratified. Niyaz Ibrahim will lose his post as Auditor General if he is not nominated by the President, or rejected by the parliament.