Our Office

Who we are

The Auditor General’s Office is an independent body of the state which reports to the Parliament. Copies of our reports are sent to the Parliament, the President of the Republic, the auditee organisations and media.

Under the revised Constitution, the Auditor General is appointed for a fixed term of 7 years by the President of the Republic with the approval of the People’s Majlis (Parliament). The powers and responsibilities of the independent Auditor General are stipulated in the Audit Act (4/2007). The Auditor General and his staff are not part of the Civil Service.

What we do

The AGO undertakes Financial Audits, Performance Audits, Governance and Regulatory Audits, and Special Audits. All these audits follow Risk Based Audit Methodology. Based on our audits we provide independent and objective assessment of the use of public funds, and efficient and effective delivery of services. The AGO undertakes audits of all government revenues and expenditures, assets and liabilities of all government departments, and state enterprises and ventures. The auditees include Ministries, State Owned Enterprises, President’s Office, President’s Palace, Police, Parliament, Law Courts, Public funds granted to political parties, Embassies and High Commissions, Atoll Offices, schools, hospitals, Statutory Authorities, and all independent institutions under the constitution including Civil Service Commission, Human Rights Commission, Police Integrity Commission etc.

Our Vision

AGO is an independent, automated and efficiently managed Office free from undue influence and with qualified professional staff, promoting clean Government free of corruption, wastage and misuse of public funds.

Our Mission

Auditor General's mission is making the government accountable in its financial management and in spending public moneys. This would be achieved through: Modernising AGO; increasing of transparency of the Government's financial transactions; providing objective, useful and timely reports; promoting prudence and good financial management in public and private sector; promoting integrity of individuals and getting them to take a strong stand against corruption; and developing the accounting profession.

Strategy and Work Program

The audit work of the AGO is driven by a strategic Audit Plan prepared independently by the AGO and endorsed by the Parliament. Generally it covers all Ministries, Departments, Government companies and ventures, President’s Office, President’s Palace, Police, Parliament, Courts of law, funds provided to political parties, High commissions and embassies, Atoll offices, schools, hospitals, special projects, statutory authorities and independent institutions.

The Strategic Audit Plan is prepared based on the legislative mandate of AGO, public feedback, understanding of client operations, new developments in the economy and pending matters and includes Financial Audits, Performance Audits, Governance and compliance Audits and Special Audits

Professional audit staff are divided into 11 audit teams headed by a team leader and as such there would be 11 audits in progress at any given point in time. All reports of AGO will be uploaded to AGO’s website after they are sent to the auditee and the Parliament.

Organisational Structure

Starting from 16th January 2008, the AGO has undergone a major restructuring. Working conditions, terms of employment and productivity-based remuneration was introduced to all staff to respond to the demands and expectations of the Parliament.

The changes include: increase of working hours from 7:30am to 4:00pm; compulsory Provident Fund contribution of 20% of salary; prohibition of undertaking business and other jobs and vocation, membership of political parties while in the employment of AGO; prohibition of close relatives working in AGO and declaring such relationships and conflict of interests where they exist in relation to auditees and removing such conflicts; daily time sheets completion; automating audit workpapers; automation of record storage and archiving; shifting all correspondence out to email and re-engineering business process of the office; performance appraisals; and Intensive training in English language, IT, audit and accounting.

Auditor General

Mr. Ibrahim Naeem was appointed as the first independent Auditor General of Maldives on 16th January 2008. The President of the Republic nominated Mr. Naeem for the post of the Auditor General and 34 out of 36 members of the People’s Majlis (Parliament) present voted for Mr. Naeem while two abstained with no votes against him.

Mr.Naeem is a professionally qualified accountant with extensive work experience in the accounting profession, private sector and government sector. He has studied and worked overseas for 17 years, including work in international accounting firms and ‘Big 4’. His formal education qualifications include BBA, Post Graduate Diploma in Accounting, CPA, MBA, PhD coursework in European Doctoral Programme in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development, and Advanced Post Graduate Diploma in Management Consultancy.

During the 10 years from 1998 until his appointment as the Auditor General in January 2008, Mr. Naeem worked at various senior executive positions in the Maldives Monetary Authority (Central Bank) as well as the Alternate Governor from the Maldives to the IMF (International Monetary Fund). His last position was Deputy Managing Director, responsible for licensing, regulation and supervision of banks, insurance companies and non bank financial institutions. During this time he developed several legislations, introduced many innovations and policy changes, established several financial institutions and programmes including the establishment of the Housing Development Finance Corporation where he was the founding Chairman.

Contacts for Mr. Naeem

© 2008 Auditor General's Office ¦ Maldives