31 July, 2008 - In what may come as a pleasant surprise to our sensitive government agencies, the royal audit authority (RAA) will be adopting a more friendly auditing system. This will mean that any audit observations from 2008 will have an ‘Entry Conference’ to discuss key issues and take suggestions before an audit is done with the agency members. The audit reports will also have more analyses on the figures and incorporate valid reasons being given for any lapses.
RAA has also set up a Quality Assurance Unit, whose sole job will be to review the output of audits, investigate the groundwork carried out and determine if findings have enough evidence and how feasible they are. Interestingly, this unit will also make sure that the ‘tone’ of the language is also ‘feasible’. The Lyonchhen, in a recent speech, had said that strong and accusatory language could lead to discouragement of agencies and also create ‘enemies’.
RAA measures
Quality unit to recheck audit reports for facts and language.
Entry conference before an audit to get views of agency.
More constructive criticism and suggestions in reports.
More varied areas of reports.
Achievements to be listed in report too.
Softer language.
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“Some people have had a negative perception of us but one must remember that, until recently, we were doing the job of ACC and the Attorney General besides our own and, moreover, nobody would take action on a mild report,” said Ugen Choewing, the Auditor General.
“However, with our changed role, we’ve evolved and will now be looking at making our audit report useful to society for informed decision making by the executive and society at large,” he added. He said that future audit reports would also highlight the achievements or efforts made by the particular agency on the concerned issue.
“Our aim is not to destroy a system but to provide accountability and ensure delivery of services as per our mandate in the constitution,” said Ugen Choewing.
On criticism on the broad generalisations made by RAA in the past, putting everyone in the same basket, he said that the few who blamed audit were mainly those who had not taken moves towards accountability. But he also said that audit reports henceforth would also accommodate the views of the opposite party, if they were valid, and also contain more constructive criticism.
By Tenzing Lamsang
