Muscat: Sheikh Ghuson bin Hilal Al Alawi, Chairman of the State Audit Institution (SAI), presented the SAI 2024 Annual Report on the results of its activities to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik.
Throughout the year, SAI committed all of its resources and capabilities to executing its national function, assigned duties, and objectives with a significant degree of efficiency and professionalism. It also encouraged strong institutional and community cooperation in support of sustainable development objectives.
SAI has also delivered copies of the Annual Report to the Council of Ministers, the State Council, and the Shura Council. This action is taken in accordance with Article (66) of the Basic State Law, enacted by Royal Decree No. 6/2021, and Article (29) of the State Audit Law, enacted by Royal Decree No. 111/2011.
These articles require SAI (the Authority) to produce an annual report on the outcomes of its work, which the Chairman of the Institution (Authority) will present directly to His Majesty the Sultan. A copy of the report is also provided to the Council of Ministers, State Council, and Shura Council before the conclusion of the following financial year.
The report addressed numerous themes that arose from SAI's exercise of its mandates and audit of government units, authorities, investments, and firms that are subject to its audit in accordance with the approved 2024 annual audit plan. The execution of these activities took into account the goals of Oman Vision 2040 and was guided by the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) principles, foundations, and standard guidelines, particularly those pertaining to comprehensiveness, clarity, conciseness, accuracy, objectivity, and audit manuals.
Based on materiality and risk assessments, SAI conducted 225 audit tasks using the principle of sample-based auditing, which led in 172 audit reports. The results were shared with the appropriate organizations, which responded favorably by taking corrective actions and implementing SAI recommendations. Additionally, some irregularities that raised criminal concerns were reported to the Public Prosecution for proper legal action.
The report also contained a section describing SAI's initiatives to encourage integrity, including statistics on financial and administrative infractions and the responses taken in response. It also included following up on the enactment of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, as well as SAI's involvement in its related meetings, conferences, agreements, and committees. Additionally, the report described SAI's assessment of draft laws, regulations, and systems created by the entities being audited, offering comments on them. The report also highlighted SAI's efforts to conduct awareness campaigns and training programs, as well as develop associated manuals designed to safeguard public funds and promote integrity.
The Annual Report also included reviews of various subjects within government agencies, such as the audit of the State's final account for 2024, the assessment of tax collection and assessment, reviews of financial and administrative activities, and the evaluation of specific directorates and departments' performance. The report addressed various issues in the sectors of energy, minerals, aviation, environment, electricity, water, food security, wastewater, and other significant matters in relation to the actions of authorities, investments, and enterprises, as well as SAI's observations and recommendations.
In terms of community collaboration, based on the idea that safeguarding public money is a shared obligation, SAI handled 1,378 complaints and reports in 2024 relating to financial and administrative misconducts, the integrity of awarding some tenders, misuse of authority, and other similar concerns. These were collected through numerous communication methods, and around 90% of the complaints and concerns have been reviewed and resolved. It's worth noting that SAI's complaints and reports portal was recognized as one of the top practices by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).
The report also included a summary of SAI's major media and awareness efforts, which aimed to increase awareness and adherence to ethical practices at both the institutional and societal levels. A total of 187 media and awareness programmes, activities, and events were conducted in 2024.
