71st annual report of Audit Bureau for year 2022 delivered to National Assembly

AMMAN — President of the Audit Bureau Radhi Al Hamadeen on Tuesday handed the annual report for the year 2022 to the senate speakers and representatives.

The annual report was handed in accordance with constitutional entitlements outlined in article 119, which stipulates: “An Audit Bureau  shall be set up by a law for controlling the state’s revenues, expenses and the ways of  their expenditure: (i) The Audit Bureau shall submit to the Senate and the House of Representatives a general report containing the irregularities committed, the liability resultant there, from its opinions and comments at the beginning of every ordinary session and whenever either House requests it to do so,” according to a statement from the Audit Bureau of Jordan.

Hamadeen highlighted that the 71st report for 2022 comprises five chapters. The first chapter outlines the bureau’s significant achievements throughout the year, emphasising the ongoing embrace of digital transformation practices and discussing the Audit Bureau’s reports for the years 2018–2021, in addition to the evolution of work methodologies, the achieved audit tasks, and the enhancement of individual and institutional performance.

The second chapter contains an analysis of the final accounts of the general budget, the monetary position statement, public debt, and an examination of the final accounts of government units in light of audit results. The third chapter included reports related to performance and environmental audit and sustainable development, the statement read.  

The fourth chapter encompasses the audit outputs concerning statements and records of various government companies, of which the government owns 50 per cent or more of shares, according to the approved audit plan.

Finally, the fifth chapter encompasses the most significant audit outputs issued during 2022, which are still pending undercorrection until September 30, 2023. These outputs include various topics such as audit outputs referred to the judiciary and to the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission, as well as controversial issues, violations of government vehicles and numerous other subjects.

Hamadeen pointed out that the total savings benefitting the state treasury through the efforts of the Audit Bureau in 2022 amounted to approximately JD103 million. 

This resulted from auditing transactions related to taxes and fees, recovering amounts unjustifiably spent, participating in bidding and procurement committees, issuing clarifications, audit reportsand audit memos.

 The Audit Bureau issued 376 audit outputs during 2022, including 5087 observations and violations. In total, 47 audit outputs, which included 1086 observations and violations, were corrected.

Regarding the ministerial committee’s work, headed by the Minister of State for Prime Ministry Affairs and representatives of each of the Audit Bureau, the Prime Ministry and the Ministry of Finance, which studies the audit outputs, discusses the relevant auditees, and studies the violations reported to the committee on an ongoing basis. In this regard, Hamadeen affirmed that the committee referred 18 audit outputs to the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission due to suspicions of corruption for further investigation, the statement said. 

Hamadeen also indicated that the committee referred six audit outputs related to the accounts of government agencies to the judiciary, which revealed a misuse of public funds. Further explaining that the committee issued 55 decisions to recover and collect public funds amounting to JD3,834,856, while the committee forwarded nine audit outputs to the Legislative and Opinion Bureau to express its opinion regarding the divergence of views between the Audit Bureau and the auditees.

Regarding the complaints and suggestions received by the Audit Bureau, Hamadeen confirmed that the bureau attaches considerable importance to the complaints received. The total number of complaints received by the bureau amounted to 289 during the year 2022, which were duly followed up, and 31 audit outputs were issued based on these complaints.

Concerning the achievement of the electronic tracking system and the control room that exists in the Audit Bureau’s headquarters, Hamadeen confirmed an increase in compliance with the regulations governing the operation of government vehicles. The number of violations of the use of government vehicles after official working hours decreased by 28 per cent in 2022 compared with 2021. Violations related to the main power supply disconnect and the tracking device stopping during official working hours also decreased by 96 per cent compared with 2021. Notably, the number of operating government vehicles with government plates amounted to approximately 15,331 vehicles, of which about 13,500 were equipped with an electronic tracking device.

Hamadeen emphasised the Audit Bureau’s dedication to adhering to the directives of His Majesty King Abdullah. This commitment includes the crucial aspects of enhancing the operations of the Audit Bureau and refining its methodology for preparing reports. 

Furthermore, there is a strong emphasis on executing tasks promptly in accordance with the law, while upholding standards of objectivity and transparency in the bureau’s reports. The primary objective is to identify deficiencies while safeguarding institutional achievements, serving as a guide for improving operational mechanisms. This commitment is intended to promote collaboration across all Jordanian institutions, ultimately benefiting the public, the statement read.