Auditor General

Parliament Finance Committee has approved the provision of MVR12 million as additional budget as requested by the Auditor General’s Office.

This decision was made at the first meeting of the Finance Committee held today, since the disruption of the Parliament in July.

Auditor General Niyaz Ibrahim told Sun Online that when the budget was passed, the Auditor General’s Office was provided MVR32 million; however, it had been agreed that additional MVR58.8 million will be provided.

He said that considering the measures taken to reduce government costs, they decided to request for an increase only about MVR12 million instead of the entire amount.

Finance Minister Abdullah Jihad said that the 15 percent reduction in the budget of every office has resulted in the offices facing budget difficulties, and requesting for budget increases.

“Today’s decision will make the situation worse, and increase the deficit. I don’t believe that budgets should be increased for any office just now,” he said.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has also requested for an increase of about MVR2 million.

Discussions were held at today’s meeting on two further issues submitted by Finance Ministry. One was in relation to the disruption of some areas of Finance Ministry’s work due to changes made to the Finance Act; and the other was about granting approval for the transfer of the land plot of Male’ Health Centre to ADK Hospital to complete the human resource component included in the project proposed by ADK Hospital.

The Committee returned both cases to Finance Ministry.

Today’s meeting was attended by Chairperson Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Nazim, Nolhivaram MP Mohamed Nasheed, Bilaiydhoo MP Ahmed Hamza, Hulhumeedhoo MP Ilyaz Labeeb, Fuvahmulah South MP Abdullah Maseeh Mohamed, Mulaku MP Abdullah Yameen, Maduvvari MP Visam Ali, Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem and Vilufushi MP Riyaz Rasheed.