Govt resistance against OAG will lead to lack of impartiality and create puppets – Radrodro

SODELPA MP and Public Accounts Committee member Aseri Radrodro says with the kind of resistance being displayed by the Government against the Office of the Auditor-General, there will be a risk where we will have to put up with puppets who will simply sing to the tune of their masters.

While supporting the motion for parliament to review the performance audit on the management of environmental impact assessments, Radrodro says the former Auditor General Ajay Nand has displayed professionalism and character by withdrawing his re-application for the position last month.

Nand's term as the Auditor General expired on 14th January this year.

He told us that he withdrew his reapplication for the position on 31st December last year due to personal reasons.

Radrodro says the action taken by Nand would be taken by any right-thinking person especially when your work is being continuously questioned by the Government in the public space.

The SODELPA MP says the Government should at least update parliament on who is the Acting Auditor General.

He adds it has become the Government's agenda to consistently question the Auditor General who consistently carries out his role professionally and independently.

Radrodro says the resistance by the Government will lead to a lack of impartiality.

While contributing to the motion, Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the former Auditor General’s contract came to an end after 5 years like all other officers appointed by the Constitutional Offices Commission. He says the term ends after 5 years and you re-apply.

Sayed-Khaiyum says the report by the Office of the Auditor General was shocking. He adds as he was sitting in parliament, one of the staff of the Ministry of Environment was texting him and saying that the Office of the Auditor General did not understand the environmental impact assessment process and they had to be trained by the Ministry of Environment before the audit.

Sayed-Khaiyum adds audit reports were filed without getting a comment from management.