AGO finished just 189 out of 621 audits tasked in 2024

The Auditor General’s Office (AGO) committed to conducting 621 audits last year, but completed only 189, according to the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee.

The Public Accounts Committee convened for a meeting on Sunday to discuss the AGO’s 2024 audit report. During the discussion, several members voiced concern over delays in audits.

At the meeting, Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim said that while the audit on the AGO did not uncover any financial irregularities, there are some serious questions over the office’s performance, with the annual audit reports of some ministries released five years later and all at once.

He also expressed concern that the same set of auditors conduct audits each year.

“There are apparently some issues in auditing and such because they grow familiar and get friendly. Therefore, we must ascertain that this is getting done in the true sense,” he said.

Nazim said that the AGO is way past the deadline set by the committee for certain audits, including a special audit on Fenaka Corporation.

He added that the Environment Ministry has complained regarding the irregularity of the corporation’s audits, as it was disrupting projects held with international partners to reduce the cost of electricity.

Nazim said that a World Bank-funded project in GA. Atoll and GDh. Atoll is now at a standstill due to lack of regular audits.

Nazim said the Auditor General had provided assurance they would complete 621 audits last year. He said that the office managed to complete only 189 audits, meaning 432 audits remain pending.

Hanimaadhoo MP Abdul Ghafoor Moosa, a lawmaker from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), noted that the AGO is required to conduct over 600 audits a year. He said that the office couldn’t get it done even they conducted two audits a day by working throughout the year.

“You cannot get it done even if you deploy the MNDF and police. Therefore, this can only be done by setting certain policies and making some decisions,” he said.

Nazim proposed summoning Auditor General Hussain Niyazy to discuss the issues and come up with a solution to ensure the timely completion of audits.

But South Hulhumale’ MP Dr. Ahmed Shamheed opinioned that that alone does not offer a solution. He said that auditors often face problems getting the information they need from institutions.

He said that the issue therefore needs cooperation from the Privatization and Corporatization Board and the Finance Ministry for a successful resolution.

Before concluding the meeting, the committee’s chair, Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem decided to set a date to summon Niyazy to the committee.