The Parliamentary Finance Committee discussed, during its meeting, today, Tuesday, violations and clarifications related to the Ministry of Local Administration and Municipalities, within the framework of discussing the reports of the Audit Bureau for the years 2018, 2019 and 2020.

The head of the committee, Mohammed Al-Saudi, said that after listening to the Audit Bureau’s observations and the ministry’s responses, the committee recommended that some of the violations contained in the Bureau’s reports be transferred to the judiciary and that other violations be transferred to the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission. It also recommended the recovery of unlawfully spent amounts, and the formation of joint committees between the Ministry and the Audit Bureau to correct violations, in addition to amending Article 5 / A of the system of rights of heads and members of municipal and local councils.

The committee also discussed violations and clarifications related to the municipalities of the southern and northern governorates, while the discussion of violations related to the municipalities of the central governorates was postponed to the next meeting.

Al-Saudi indicated that the clarifications centered on not defining the tasks and powers of the committees formed in the municipalities and the joint services councils and the legislative basis for their formation, approving university studies for municipal employees and granting them a full-time approval for one day each week without a legal basis permitting this, in addition to disbursing rewards to members of municipal councils As a result of their participation in committees that are not within their competence, contrary to the provisions of the accountability system for heads and members of municipal and local councils.

Most of the violations included: disbursing documents, bonuses, and overtime allowance despite the State Audit Bureau’s reservation on them as they are in violation of the provisions of the applicable regulations, legislation and instructions, in addition to offering bids and using government vehicles inside and outside official working hours without a statement of official use by the person, and not collecting parking allowances for licenses buildings.

The “Ministry of Representatives” stressed the need to issue circulars to prevent abuses and violations, and to abide by the applicable regulations, such as the system of buildings and supplies, the civil service, and the system of heads and members of municipal and local councils.
For his part, the Secretary-General of the Audit Bureau, Dr. Ibrahim Al-Majali, presented clarifications related to the ministry and municipalities, noting that the Bureau made recommendations to correct violations and recover the unlawfully spent amounts. The Secretary-General of the Ministry of Local Administration, Hassan Mhaidat, indicated that many violations and clarifications contained in the report were referred to the judiciary for integrity and anti-corruption.

During the meeting, an extensive discussion took place between the attending deputies, the Audit Bureau and the local administration on mechanisms for preserving public money, ensuring the safety of its use and managing it legally and effectively, and preventing the recurrence of abuses and violations.