Majlis Approves MVR 133.5 Million Budget for Auditor General’s Office for 2027

The People’s Majlis has passed the proposed 2027 budget for the Auditor General’s Office (AGO), endorsing the Public Accounts Committee’s recommendation with 46 votes in favour.

Under the approved allocation, the AGO has been granted a total budget of MVR 133,590,265 for 2027. This comprises MVR 90,090,265 for recurrent expenditure and capital asset acquisitions, alongside MVR 43,500,000 allocated under the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) specifically for the construction of the AGO’s new building in Hulhumalé.

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The approved figure represents an MVR 6 million reduction compared to the MVR 134,291,084 budget allocated for 2026.

During floor debates, parliamentarians expressed contrasting views on the AGO’s funding and operational priorities.

South Hulhumalé MP Dr Ahmed Shamheed defended the budget review, noting that the office had received its requested funding over the past two to three years. 

He argued that the AGO must reprioritise its resources away from costly routine audits of local councils towards high-value state-owned enterprises and government institutions handling major public transactions.

MP Shamheed also raised concerns over public procurement inefficiencies, pointing out that laptops purchased through state procurement protocols were costing up to MVR 45,000 per unit, roughly three times their market value. 

He noted that the Audit Office attributed these inflated figures to vendors submitting higher bids to offset delayed payments from the state.

PNC Parliamentary Group Leader and Inguraidhoo MP Ibrahim Falah highlighted that the committee’s report was passed unanimously by its members. 

Commenting on past corruption cases, including those within Fenaka Corporation during the previous administration, Falah stated that while audit reports were released, actionable enforcement often lagged. He remarked that corruption remains a major systemic challenge where culpable individuals frequently evade accountability.

Conversely, Kendhoo MP Mauroof Zakir expressed strong concern over the reduction in the AGO’s funding, cautioning that passing a budget significantly lower than requested compromises the institution’s oversight capacity. 

Mauroof emphasised that the Auditor General’s Office carries the critical responsibility of safeguarding taxpayer money, ensuring state financial accountability, monitoring debt sustainability, curbing public project waste, and protecting the value of Rufiyaa.

 He called on parliamentarians to consider providing a more adequate budget allocation to safeguard the office’s core oversight mandate.