Deputy Minister at the Finance Ministry, Hassan Zamir has said that the financial accountability of the government cannot be established without a responsible Auditor General.
Zamir said that every Ruffiya generated to the state budget is the result of much work of the people. Therefore, he said that it is important to establish a system to identify how that Ruffiya is used by the government.
He said that the taxes taken from the people generates much of the income generated by the state. He said that basic goods are sold with GST and other taxes taken by the state.
He said that the constitution stipulates that “there shall be an independent and impartial Auditor General of the Maldives. (b) The Auditor General shall carry out his responsibilities and duties in accordance with the Constitution and any laws passed by the People’s Majlis. Appointment of Auditor General 210. The President shall appoint as Auditor General a person approved by a majority of the total membership of the People’s Majlis from the names submitted to the People’s Majlis as provided for in law.”
He said that the constitution clearly mentions the regulations on how an Auditor General should be dismissed from his post. He said that the government did not consider these regulations when they fired the Auditor General.
“Just because they have Majlis majority they removed the Auditor General by bringing an amendment to the constitution,” he said.
Financial accountability of the govt cannot be established without an Auditor General- Zamir
