The Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) last audited the financial accounts of the i-Taukei Affairs Board for the year 2007. Auditor-General Finau Nagera disclosed this information while addressing the Public Accounts Committee during a presentation regarding the Ministry of i-Taukei Affairs on the review of audit reports for the years 2020, 2021, and 2022 in the General Administration Sector.
Nagera noted that the OAG is still awaiting the submission of the draft financial statements for 2008 and subsequent years to proceed with auditing those reports. She mentioned that these outstanding reports will be outsourced to external accounting firms.
The Auditor-General expressed satisfaction with the progress of financial reporting for the Provincial Councils, indicating that the reports for the councils are only a couple of years behind schedule. The OAG aims to finalize the financial accounts for the years 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 within the current financial year.
She highlighted that the OAG plans to audit 56 draft financial reports, which will be managed internally by the Office rather than being outsourced. Additionally, Nagera emphasized that the 2023-2024 financial report is expected to be completed in the subsequent financial year (2024-2025), ensuring that all provincial councils are up to date.
Nagera clarified that the Ministry of i-Taukei Affairs is responsible for overseeing the i-Taukei Affairs Board and each provincial council to ensure they remain accountable and submit their reports punctually. This accountability extends not only to the Ministry but also to the OAG, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, and ultimately to Parliament, which allocates the funds to these entities.