Auditor General of Singapore: Difference between revisions
Content deleted Content added
m the the → the |
|||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|Singapore audit agency}} |
{{Short description|Singapore audit agency}} |
||
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}} |
|||
{{Infobox government agency |
{{Infobox government agency |
||
| Line 19: | Line 20: | ||
The '''Auditor-General's Office''' (AGO) is an [[organ of state]] and Singapore's national auditor. The [[President of Singapore|President]] is empowered under the [[Constitution of Singapore|Constitution]] to appoint the Auditor-General in accordance with the advice of the [[Prime Minister of Singapore|Prime Minister]]. |
The '''Auditor-General's Office''' (AGO) is an [[organ of state]] and Singapore's national auditor. The [[President of Singapore|President]] is empowered under the [[Constitution of Singapore|Constitution]] to appoint the Auditor-General in accordance with the advice of the [[Prime Minister of Singapore|Prime Minister]]. |
||
The Audit Act 1966 imposes a duty on the Auditor-General to audit the accounts of all departments and offices of the [[Government of Singapore|Singapore Government]] (including the office of the [[Public Service Commission (Singapore)|Public Service Commission]]), the accounts of the [[Supreme Court of Singapore|Supreme Court]], all subordinate courts, and [[Parliament of Singapore|Parliament]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Section 3 |url=https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/AA1966?ProvIds=P12-#pr3- |website=Audit Act 1966 of Singapore}}</ref> The Act confers on the Auditor-General various investigatory powers to facilitate the carrying out of audits.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Section 6 |url=https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/AA1966?ProvIds=P12-#pr6- |website=Audit Act 1966 of Singapore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date= |
The Audit Act 1966 imposes a duty on the Auditor-General to audit the accounts of all departments and offices of the [[Government of Singapore|Singapore Government]] (including the office of the [[Public Service Commission (Singapore)|Public Service Commission]]), the accounts of the [[Supreme Court of Singapore|Supreme Court]], all subordinate courts, and [[Parliament of Singapore|Parliament]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Section 3 |url=https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/AA1966?ProvIds=P12-#pr3- |website=Audit Act 1966 of Singapore}}</ref> The Act confers on the Auditor-General various investigatory powers to facilitate the carrying out of audits.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Section 6 |url=https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/AA1966?ProvIds=P12-#pr6- |website=Audit Act 1966 of Singapore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=24 July 2023 |title=Keeping govt agencies on their toes |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/st-editorial/keeping-govt-agencies-on-their-toes |access-date=26 May 2024 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}</ref> |
||
The AGO reports their findings directly to the President, Parliament, and the public, through the Annual Report of the Auditor-General. Audit findings are also shared with the management of the audited organisation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Overview |url=https://www.ago.gov.sg/who-we-are/overview/ |access-date= |
The AGO reports their findings directly to the President, Parliament, and the public, through the Annual Report of the Auditor-General. Audit findings are also shared with the management of the audited organisation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Overview |url=https://www.ago.gov.sg/who-we-are/overview/ |access-date=26 May 2024 |website=www.ago.gov.sg |language=en}}</ref> |
||
== History == |
== History == |
||
On 2 October 2017, Parliament passed amendments to the Audit Act 1966 to grant the AGO additional powers to conduct "follow-the-dollar" audits to trace public monies beyond government agencies to non-government organisations to which the monies are disbursed, such as [[Charitable organization|voluntary welfare organisations]] and [[Autonomous university|autonomous universities]]. These "follow-the-dollar" audits can only be carried out by the AGO if it is directed to do so by the [[Ministry of Finance (Singapore)|Minister for Finance]], who may only give such a direction if they are satisfied that it is in the public interest to do so.<ref>{{Cite news |date= |
On 2 October 2017, Parliament passed amendments to the Audit Act 1966 to grant the AGO additional powers to conduct "follow-the-dollar" audits to trace public monies beyond government agencies to non-government organisations to which the monies are disbursed, such as [[Charitable organization|voluntary welfare organisations]] and [[Autonomous university|autonomous universities]]. These "follow-the-dollar" audits can only be carried out by the AGO if it is directed to do so by the [[Ministry of Finance (Singapore)|Minister for Finance]], who may only give such a direction if they are satisfied that it is in the public interest to do so.<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 July 2023 |title=Keeping govt agencies on their toes |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/st-editorial/keeping-govt-agencies-on-their-toes |access-date=26 May 2024 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}</ref> |
||
== Management == |
== Management == |
||
The current Auditor-General is Goh Soon Poh. Goh was previously deputy secretary at the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (Singapore)|Ministry of Home Affairs]] and the [[Prime Minister's Office (Singapore)|Prime Minister's Office]] before her appointment as Auditor-General in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019 |
The current Auditor-General is Goh Soon Poh. Goh was previously deputy secretary at the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (Singapore)|Ministry of Home Affairs]] and the [[Prime Minister's Office (Singapore)|Prime Minister's Office]] before her appointment as Auditor-General in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 January 2019 |title=New auditor-general to take charge from Feb 2019 |url=https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/new-auditor-general-take-charge-feb-2019 |access-date=26 May 2024 |website=The Business Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lai |first=Linette |date=8 January 2019 |title=New auditor-general to take over next month as incumbent retires |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/new-auditor-general-to-take-over-next-month-as-incumbent-retires |access-date=26 May 2024 |work=[[The Straits Times]] |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}</ref> |
||
Goh is the wife of Senior Minister of State for Defence [[Heng Chee How]]. Responding to a question from MP [[Sylvia Lim]] in Parliament, the Minister-in-charge of the Public Service, [[Chan Chun Sing|Chan Chun Seng]], clarified that there is generally no conflict of interest between the AGO and the ministries which they audit and further, political office-holders are not involved in the audits conducted by the AGO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Auditor-general is wife of political office-holder, but there's no conflict of interest: Chan Chun Sing |url=https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/auditor-general-wife-political-office-holder-theres-no-conflict-interest-chan-chun-sing |access-date= |
Goh is the wife of Senior Minister of State for Defence [[Heng Chee How]]. Responding to a question from MP [[Sylvia Lim]] in Parliament, the Minister-in-charge of the Public Service, [[Chan Chun Sing|Chan Chun Seng]], clarified that there is generally no conflict of interest between the AGO and the ministries which they audit and further, political office-holders are not involved in the audits conducted by the AGO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Auditor-general is wife of political office-holder, but there's no conflict of interest: Chan Chun Sing |url=https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/auditor-general-wife-political-office-holder-theres-no-conflict-interest-chan-chun-sing |access-date=26 May 2024 |website=TODAY |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Au-Yong |first=Rachel |date=28 February 2019 |title=Parliament: 'No conflict of interest' in appointing new Auditor-General, a Senior Minister of State's wife |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/parliament-no-conflict-of-interest-in-appointment-of-new-auditor-general-who-is-wife-of-a |access-date=26 May 2024 |work=[[The Straits Times]] |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}</ref> |
||
== References == |
== References == |
||
Revision as of 03:11, 19 July 2024
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1867 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Singapore |
| Motto | To audit and report to the President and Parliament on the proper accounting and use of public resources so as to enhance public accountability and help strengthen the financial governance of the public service. |
| Agency executives |
|
| Website | https://www.ago.gov.sg/ |
The Auditor-General's Office (AGO) is an organ of state and Singapore's national auditor. The President is empowered under the Constitution to appoint the Auditor-General in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister.
The Audit Act 1966 imposes a duty on the Auditor-General to audit the accounts of all departments and offices of the Singapore Government (including the office of the Public Service Commission), the accounts of the Supreme Court, all subordinate courts, and Parliament.[1] The Act confers on the Auditor-General various investigatory powers to facilitate the carrying out of audits.[2][3]
The AGO reports their findings directly to the President, Parliament, and the public, through the Annual Report of the Auditor-General. Audit findings are also shared with the management of the audited organisation.[4]
History
On 2 October 2017, Parliament passed amendments to the Audit Act 1966 to grant the AGO additional powers to conduct "follow-the-dollar" audits to trace public monies beyond government agencies to non-government organisations to which the monies are disbursed, such as voluntary welfare organisations and autonomous universities. These "follow-the-dollar" audits can only be carried out by the AGO if it is directed to do so by the Minister for Finance, who may only give such a direction if they are satisfied that it is in the public interest to do so.[5]
Management
The current Auditor-General is Goh Soon Poh. Goh was previously deputy secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Prime Minister's Office before her appointment as Auditor-General in 2019.[6][7]
Goh is the wife of Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How. Responding to a question from MP Sylvia Lim in Parliament, the Minister-in-charge of the Public Service, Chan Chun Seng, clarified that there is generally no conflict of interest between the AGO and the ministries which they audit and further, political office-holders are not involved in the audits conducted by the AGO.[8][9]
References
- ^ "Section 3". Audit Act 1966 of Singapore.
- ^ "Section 6". Audit Act 1966 of Singapore.
- ^ "Keeping govt agencies on their toes". The Straits Times. 24 July 2023. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "Overview". www.ago.gov.sg. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "Keeping govt agencies on their toes". The Straits Times. 24 July 2023. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "New auditor-general to take charge from Feb 2019". The Business Times. 7 January 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ Lai, Linette (8 January 2019). "New auditor-general to take over next month as incumbent retires". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "Auditor-general is wife of political office-holder, but there's no conflict of interest: Chan Chun Sing". TODAY. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ Au-Yong, Rachel (28 February 2019). "Parliament: 'No conflict of interest' in appointing new Auditor-General, a Senior Minister of State's wife". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 26 May 2024.