The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) is working to enhance its collaboration with civil society organizations (CSOs) and the general public. Auditor-General Finau Seru Nagera stated that the OAG is also reinforcing its engagement with citizens at the grassroots level.
Ms. Nagera highlighted that this initiative aims to bolster community involvement in the audit process and improve governance transparency throughout Fiji. She mentioned that during the consultation on the Audit Act, CSOs were invited through the director of the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS). “We need more public and civil engagement,” she said, describing the initiative as a work in progress.
Ms. Nagera noted the essential role of these organizations in disseminating invitations for public participation, emphasizing the OAG’s commitment to inclusivity and stakeholder involvement in governance. “We are hoping to work with UNDP to organize a workshop for stakeholders, as they can contribute to performance audits,” she added. This partnership aims to leverage international auditing expertise to enhance audit effectiveness and accountability.
Addressing concerns about accessibility, Ms. Nagera underscored the Auditor-General’s proactive steps to engage citizens through an online platform. This platform allows individuals to propose audit topics related to community issues, encouraging public participation in shaping audit priorities and fostering governance accountability.
“We have a platform on our website where you can go and suggest an audit topic. We have been trying to raise awareness about this tool,” she said. Ms. Nagera reiterated the Auditor-General’s commitment to transparency, stressing that the audit processes are open to all Fijian citizens.
She encouraged active public involvement, highlighting the opportunity for citizens to contribute meaningfully to audit initiatives and promote good governance practices across the nation. “The supreme audit institution (SAI) expects good contributions to audits in Fiji. The process is available to everyone. If you are a citizen of Fiji, you can contribute to the audit process,” she concluded.