In the frame of strengthening constructive cooperation with experts and specialists, the Institute of Public Administration (BIPA) received National Audit Court (NAC) Undersecretary for Regularity and Performance Audit Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Balushi, who presented to participating directors of the 8th batch of the preparation diploma program for government leaders “LEADERS”, the role of NAC in auditing state’s funds and fighting financial and administrative corruption, where he stressed that the role of the Court in the oversight of public funds and its good management is much bigger than just finding out financial and administrative irregularities and spotting offenders and referring them to the public prosecution.
At the beginning of his speech, Dr. Al Balushi added that NAC is one of the most important bodies established within the reform project of His Majesty, which has contributed significantly – by ensuring its independence under its establishment law – in bridging the gaps and improving procedures and systems in different government agencies, through promoting transparency culture and disclosing corruption and ensuring accountability in order to improve the overall performance in government sector.
Speaking to a group taking part in leaders program; Dr. Al Balushi added that, despite the full independence of the Court which is guaranteed by the Constitution – so that in carrying out its duties, NAC is not overseen by the executive authority or the Council of Representatives – but that does not mean NAC is free to work in isolation, away from their agencies and authorities or not to cooperate, respond or interact with what might be asked by the Council of Representatives, so long as the response is within the authorization granted to it.
Dr. Al Balushi also pointed out to the important role played by BIPA in feeding the public sector with the correct practices for various government functions, noting that the meeting with government directors formed an opportunity to familiarize them with the tasks and functions of NAC, and the mechanisms for cooperation and coordination between the Court auditors and officials in government agencies, in addition to the anticipated action role of government agencies in each stage of the audit process which is carried out by NAC, so as to enable those entities to achieve the objectives for which they were established; and safe keeping the entrusted public funds.
It is worth mentioning that this hosting of Dr. Al-Balushi comes in a series of continuous accommodations adopted by BIPA to activate the direct benefit of the experts in the field of leadership and management, in order to achieve direct interaction with those leaders and acquire more information from their various knowledge and experiences.