Amman: Senate President Faisal Fayez on Monday underscored the pivotal and complementary relationship between the Audit Bureau and the Senate and Lower House of Parliament, particularly in supporting their oversight of the executive authority and affiliated institutions, especially regarding the protection of public funds.
According to Jordan News Agency, Fayez spoke at the opening of the third annual symposium on “The Independence of Supreme Audit Institutions in the Arab Region,” organized by the Audit Bureau in cooperation with the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI). He emphasized the Bureau’s role in providing oversight through its constitutionally mandated authority, highlighting that it submits monthly and annual reports to the National Assembly, which is tasked with holding the executive branch accountable. These reports are reviewed by specialized parliamentary committees, which issue decisions in accordance with constitutional and oversight frameworks.
Fayez stressed that the Senate views the Audit Bureau’s findings as a fundamental basis for carrying out its oversight role over public funds and violations, using tools such as parliamentary questions and interpellations directed at relevant executive agencies. He noted that oversight bodies are a cornerstone of good governance, ensuring compliance with legal, administrative, and financial regulations, promoting transparency, and detecting violations that help build public confidence in government institutions. These bodies serve as the first line of defence against financial and administrative corruption, improve resource management, and protect citizens’ rights by addressing abuses of power or discrimination.
He explained that regulatory institutions support economic development and attract investment by fostering a transparent and fair environment, especially in procurement and licensing, thus deterring illegal practices through effective monitoring. Fayez also outlined the challenges facing oversight bodies, such as political interference, limited resources, bureaucracy, and technological obstacles amid rising cybercrime and digital fraud. He called for enhancing the technical capacities of these institutions to keep pace with emerging challenges.
In a world undergoing rapid digital transformation and mounting economic and social pressures, Fayez emphasized that strengthening the independence of oversight institutions must be a strategic priority. As a legislative body, the Senate is committed to bolstering these institutions through robust legal frameworks that ensure independence and shield them from external interference. He reiterated that oversight bodies are instrumental in reducing violations and promoting accountability, which in turn enhances trust between the public and the state. Their effectiveness, he said, depends on their independence, operational efficiency, and adaptability to new challenges.
Fayez called for increased cooperation and exchange of expertise among audit institutions to empower them to carry out their duties effectively. He described these institutions as “a shield to protect citizens, a sword to combat corruption, and a bridge to achieve justice and development.”
Audit Bureau President Radhi Hamadin remarked that the forum comes at a crucial time that requires serious reflection on the future of supreme audit institutions and their ability to fulfil their mandate in protecting public funds, improving services, and strengthening public trust. He stressed that the independence of these institutions is not merely symbolic but a cornerstone of democratic governance and a safeguard of accountability, transparency, and effective resource management.
Hamadin explained that while legal frameworks form the foundation of institutional independence, informal safeguards such as institutional culture, media oversight, and public opinion are also vital. He warned that personal relationships and overlapping interests can undermine institutional autonomy. He noted that the Audit Bureau has made progress in asserting its independence and enhancing its functions by amending legislation and securing necessary resources. In line with His Majesty King Abdullah’s reform agenda, the Bureau has launched its 2024-2027 strategic plan, featuring 19 axes focused on institutional development and independence.
Hamadin welcomed the upcoming independence assessment mission to be conducted by the World Bank, in partnership with the INTOSAI Development Initiative and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. He also announced the Bureau’s first-ever peer review mission, set to take place next year, and a comprehensive institutional performance evaluation using the Performance Assessment Framework.
Ola Hoem, Deputy Director General of the INTOSAI Development Initiative, underscored that the independence of audit institutions is a fundamental requirement for the effective functioning of any supreme audit institution (SAI), though noted that current evidence shows the level of independence defined by the INTOSAI Lima and Mexico Declarations remains insufficient to ensure full effectiveness.