Wednesday 04 / December / 2024
Muscat: State Audit Institution (SAI) implemented an awareness seminar entitled “Protecting Public Fund and Promoting Integrity... Institutional Roles and Community Partnership” on Wednesday, December 4, 2024 in Nizwa, Al Dakhiliya Governorate.
The seminar was patronised by His Excellency Sheikh Hilal bin Said Al Hajri, Governor of Al-Dakhiliya, in the presence of His Excellency Ahmed bin Salem Al Rujabi, SAI Deputy Chairman of Audit of Government Units, a number of honoured members of the State Council, Their Excellencies members of the Shura Council and Walis, officials of the units of the State’s administrative apparatus, CEOs of government-owned companies in the Governorate, and a number of SAI specialists.
The seminar opened with a speech by Yousif Al Naabi, Director of Department for Financial & Administrative Audit in Al-Dhakiliya & Al-Wusta Governorates. In his address, he emphasised that the seminar aligns with the State Audit Institution’s commitment to fostering institutional
partnerships.
These seminars aim to highlight the importance of protecting public funds and promoting integrity, as outlined in the State Audit Institution Law issued by Royal Decree No. 111/2011, the Law on the Protection of Public Fund and Avoidance of Conflict of Interest issued by the Royal Decree No. 112/2011, and other related legislations.
He underscored the critical role of institutional partnerships in managing resources efficiently and effectively, enabling entities to fulfill their mandates and achieve their objectives with excellence. Furthermore, he stressed SAI’s dedication to raising public awareness of laws and procedures related to public funds and public office. Through its media and outreach efforts, SAI aims to promote the values of integrity, combat corruption, and encourage collaboration in protecting public funds, targeting all segments of society.
Following that, the seminar’s themes were presented by Shabeeb Al-Busaidi, Director General of Legal Works at SAI, who reviewed the laws regulating SAI’s work.
He also explained the methodology followed by SAI in implementing its objectives and responsibilities, and the mechanism of auditing, as well as the procedures followed when detecting observations and irregularities, referring to the reports issued by SAI, and highlighting SAI main role in protecting public fund, promoting integrity and combating corruption.
Al-Busaidi also Pointed out the measures taken by State Audit Institution upon the Sultanate of Oman’s accession to the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the subsequent measures that contributed to highlighting the Sultanate of Oman’s efforts in various related fields.
Then, Dr. Mubarak Al-Rahbi, Director of Audit of Economic Affairs Sector, reviewed the societal roles in protecting public fund as well as the channels provided by SAI to submit complaints and reports, and the mechanism followed in examining them, in addition to reviewing the audit impact and the added value according to what was contained in the Community Brief of SAI’s work results included in its 2023 Annual Report.
The most prominent observations detected in the scope of auditing government tenders and auctions were also addressed.
The seminar concluded with an enriching panel discussion, with the participation of State Audit Institution specialists, during which the views of the attendees were heard and their inquiries were answered.
