Muscat Governorate organized an awareness lecture for its employees on Sunday, entitled “Public Funds’ Protection and Avoiding Conflicts of Interest”, with the partnership with the State Audit Institution. Within the cooperation with the institution and the administrative entities in Oman to promote integrity and protect public funds, in the presence of Their Excellencies the Walis and the governorate’s employees.
The lecture presented by Dr. Mubarak bin Khalfan Al Rahbi, Director of the Economic Affairs’ Control Department, aimed to introduce the attendees to the importance of the State Audit Institution’s national role and the institutional partnership in public funds’ protection. The lecture discussed various topics. They are the audit institution’s national roles in public funds’ protection, the government officials’ commitments in this field, and the institutional partnership role in the audit reports’ management.
The institution’s specializations and powers were also reviewed. As well as, explaining the followed methodology to implement financial and administrative supervision over funds that are owned by the state or under its management or supervision, and clarifying how to follow up on the entities’ performance under the institution`s supervision according to the legislations that regulate its work. Additionally, reviewing the following up on the monitored entities’ performance according to the laws regulating the institution’s works and their added value. The financial liability and annual declarations’ forms for government officials were also highlighted.
The lecture discussed the institution`s efforts in integrity promotion, in light of its responsibility for theAnti-Corruption Commission. Additionally its role in the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) implementation follow-up. Awareness activities targeted at various groups of society to promote the integrity values through various media, including newspapers, television, radio and social media were mentioned.
The lecture concluded by opening the discussion to the attendees and answering their inquiries. As well as, explaining ways for citizens and residents to communicate with the institution to submit complaints, reports and inquiries connected to the public funds’ protection.