State Auditor General explains "many audits but only discovered 1 corruption case"

Need to clarify further the results of implementing audit recommendations

At the meeting, Mr. Le Quang Manh, Chairman of the National Assembly 's Finance and Budget Committee, said that the Standing Committee of the Finance and Budget Committee believes that the work of preventing and combating corruption and negativity through auditing activities and detecting and handling corruption and negativity within the State Audit Office continues to be strengthened and focused on by the Executive Committee, Party Committee, and State Auditor General, achieving positive results.

Chairman of the National Assembly's Finance and Budget Committee Le Quang Manh speaks at the meeting.

However, with the large scale and scope of the audit, the results of the anti-corruption audit, the State Audit Office has only recommended considering and directing one case with signs of law violation, which is not appropriate.

Regarding the above issue, according to Ms. Le Thi Nga, Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Judiciary Committee, in recent times, the State Audit has performed its duties and powers with utmost effort and achieved many results.

However, in the times the State Audit reports to the National Assembly, National Assembly delegates are very interested in the results of the implementation of audit recommendations. Some years the results are high, some years the results are low.

According to the assessment of the Finance and Budget Committee, the majority of opinions said that, compared to the results of the same period in 2023, the implementation of financial and other recommendations decreased in scale. The rate of implementation of recommendations on document handling was very low, reaching 6.06%.

From there, Ms. Nga requested further clarification of the results of implementing the audit recommendations.

Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Committee on Justice Le Thi Nga.

Ms. Nga also requested to clarify which agencies and units have not fully and promptly implemented the audit recommendations; and clarify the reasons for the delay in implementing the audit recommendations.

"We have issued a Decree on administrative sanctions for violations in the field of State Audit. Therefore, we need to report on how this Decree has been implemented," said Ms. Nga.

According to Ms. Nga, through internal investigation and handling, no negative or corrupt cases have been discovered in the auditing activities, which is commendable. However, the State Audit Office, with its responsibility as an agency related to preventing corruption and negative acts, has only recently proposed to consider directing one case that violated the law.

"Compared to very large audited units where only one case was discovered, it is necessary to clarify the reason why there was only one case?", Ms. Nga raised the issue.

"Post-audit" is the most important issue

Speaking at the meeting, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man said it is necessary to clarify the causes and responsibilities of agencies, organizations and individuals in the slow implementation of audit recommendations.

The most important issue of auditing is that once the conclusion is made, the ministries and local branches must seriously implement and report in accordance with the provisions of the State Audit Law. Resolving the "post-audit" issue is the most important issue.

Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man.

Regarding auditing in 2025, the National Assembly Chairman proposed reviewing the audit plan to select focused and key content, "accurate" and "correct" auditing, and cutting down on unnecessary tasks that overlap with the inspection plan, so as not to overlap or step on each other.

Focus on auditing important national projects and key projects with large disbursement volumes. For example, road and bridge construction and large projects must regularly monitor and audit volumes and final payments.

"I have lived in a house for 10 years but have not yet paid for it. I was very enthusiastic about the advance payment, but when I used it, the payment was very slow. If this situation occurs in ministries and local branches, how can the auditors give me a warning?", the National Assembly Chairman stated clearly and requested to clarify the efficiency of state capital investment in enterprises.

State Auditor General Ngo Van Tuan.

Explaining further, State Auditor General Ngo Van Tuan said that he pays great attention to preventing corruption and negativity. The industry has set the public service ethics criterion as number 1, and always implements anti-corruption within the industry.

In the few cases transferred to the investigation agency, the nature of the audit is prevention and containment within 45 days based on the records provided by the providing units, there is risk analysis.

"We are the "input material" for the investigation agencies to evaluate. Every year, we have provided more than 400 documents, and in 2023, we provided more than 800 documents to the Inspection Committee and the investigation agencies.

During the audit process, do not wait until it is finished. When we discover signs of clear violations of the law or corruption, we must immediately transfer them to the relevant authorities," said Mr. Tuan.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/tong-kiem-toan-nha-nuoc-ly-giai-kiem-toan-nhieu-nhung-chi-phat-hien-1-vu-tham-nhung-192240923192540586.htm