Parliament has authorised a record USD 8.70 million budget for the Auditor General’s Office for the coming year, the largest allocation in the institution’s history and a measure that lawmakers say reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening financial oversight.
The appropriation, passed unanimously by all 51 members present at the sitting, represents a USD 1.30 million increase over the current year’s budget. The additional funding is intended to address staffing shortages and rising personnel costs, while also supporting infrastructure and investment projects.
The Auditor General’s Office submits its budget separately from the government’s main fiscal plan. In its presentation to the Public Accounts Committee, the office highlighted the absence of senior auditors in seven of its 22 departments, describing the shortfall as critical to resolve.
The committee was also informed that personnel costs had risen after Audit Fund employees were moved to the National Pay Framework in September, an adjustment that required an additional USD 590,000 for salaries.
Following its review, the Public Accounts Committee endorsed the full request. The budget is divided into two categories: USD 6.02 million for recurrent expenditure and fixed assets, and USD 2.69 million for Public Sector Investment Programme projects.
MP Ahmed Saleem, who serves as Deputy Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee and represents Eydhafushi, characterised the approval as historically significant, noting that it reflects the government’s emphasis on equipping the Auditor General’s Office to conduct comprehensive audits of state institutions. He also reported that construction of the new Audit Office building is expected to conclude by March next year, a development anticipated to ease longstanding space constraints.
With the necessary funding and infrastructure secured, MP Saleem said the office is now positioned to carry out its mandate without impediment, whether financial or logistical. He also expressed confidence that future audit reports will be more comprehensive as a result.
The approved allocation will now be incorporated into the Ministry of Finance and Planning’s projected state budget for the upcoming year.