AG says the Review Report on the Performance Audit of Preparedness of Sustainable Development Goals was done very prematurely

Onus on Govt to implement SDGs - Ro Teimumu

By Naveel Krishant

Saturday 05/06/2021

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Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says unfortunately the Review Report by the Auditor Generals Office on the Performance Audit of Preparedness of Sustainable Development Goals was done very prematurely and therefore the findings in the report in fact cannot be relied upon.

While contributing to the motion that Parliament debates the Review Report on the Performance Audit of Preparedness of Sustainable Development Goals, Sayed-Khaiyum says they discovered that Auditor Generals Office started their audit in the first quarter of 2018 unbeknownst to anybody.

Sayed-Khaiyum told Parliament that in March 2019 they went to the Ministry of Economy saying that they had done a performance audit and what is their comment.

He adds the report claims that the Ministries and Departments have not aligned their strategic plans to the 5 year and 20 year National Development Plan which Sayed-Khaiyum says is preposterous.

Sayed-Khaiyum further says the National Development Plans were launched in November 2017 which is in the middle of the financial year adding that the fact finding for this report was done within the same financial year.

He says how can they have a proper assessment when a particular project has just been launched adding that the Strategic Development Plans are now aligned to the National Development Plans.

SODELPA MP, Ro Teimumu Kepa says this report highlights that government has adopted the Strategic Development Goals 2030 agenda into the 5 year and 20 year National Development Plans.

Ro Teimumu says the onus is on the Government on how prepared the whole of government is in regards to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Required:

Critically analyse the above statement and answer the following questions on auditing:

Do you agree with with the Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyums comments? Support your views by discussing at least four (4) benefits of performance audit. Use examples from the case to support your views. (15 marks)