Committee to counsel govt on removing employees suspected of corruption in SOEs

The parliament’s public accounts committee met on Monday approved to counsel the government on terminating employees of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) suspected of corruption.

The committee approved counseling the state to revise the human resource (HR) policies of SOEs to achieve this.

Parliament's Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim proposed making this suggestion to the government aimed at implementing the demands of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Nazim argued that when an employee faces corruption, allegations and is eventually found guilty and subsequently terminated, those who aided them retaining their positions in the company is unfair.

The Deputy Speaker proposed taking steps against employees suspected of of aiding corruption during preceding managements as well, and argued the only way to achieve this is by rectifying the HR framework of the SOEs, ensuring necessary action is taken against all culpable parties.

Baarah MP Ibrahim Shujau supported Nazim's suggestions, and was subsequently approved with unanimous vote at the committee.

Rampant corruption within SOEs for political and personal gains is among the top most publicly scrutinized issues.

Despite such cases surfacing regularly, appropriate action against the culpable parties is almost never taken, while the state and public face significant losses due to widespread misconduct.