State Audit recommends handling 14,000 billion VND

Every year, the State Audit Office conducts hundreds of audits of state budget settlement reports at ministries, branches and localities nationwide. Through audit reports, the State has handled and recovered billions of VND in violations as well as contributed to improving shortcomings in policies and mechanisms.

On the sidelines of the 2nd session of the 14th National Assembly this morning (October 31), State Auditor General Ho Duc Phoc shared with reporters the advantages and difficulties in auditing work.

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State Auditor General Ho Duc Phoc is talking to the press on the sidelines of the National Assembly. (Photo: Duc Duy/Vietnam+).

- Up to this point, we are clearly seeing the burdens in budget collection. From the perspective of the State Audit Office, can you share more about this issue?

Mr. Ho Duc Phuc:Every year, the State Audit conducts about 230 audits and from there also discovers errors and makes recommendations for correction, helping to use the budget more economically and effectively.

In 2015, the State Audit recommended financial settlement of over VND19,000 billion and in the first 9 months of 2016, it completed 112 audits, with financial settlement recommendations of over VND14,000 billion, in which the main errors were budget payments by tax units or other obligations.

In addition, there were also some problems discovered such as incorrect spending, standard regulations and issues of budget preparation and implementation... We also made recommendations to relevant units on all of the above issues.

In fact, auditing is aimed at a number of core objectives, including financial settlement, which means recovering expenditures that are inconsistent with policies and regulations and unpaid amounts.

Through audits, we also recommend amending policies such as Decrees, Circulars and Decisions that are not in accordance with current laws. This will help plug the leaks and loopholes caused by policies and preserve the budget and public assets in the most effective way.

Finally, there is the issue of recommendations and handling of related organizations and individuals. We are currently making efforts to implement them. And every year, the issue of implementing the audit recommendations is generally serious.

- Could you elaborate on the audit recommendations, responsibilities and results of handling those recommendations at the local and central levels?

Mr. Ho Duc Phuc:Currently, on average, the State Audit recommends and implements about 65-70%.

In general, agencies, units and organizations strictly implement. However, in reality, due to budget difficulties, implementing the audit recommendations also requires time for agencies and units to have the resources to implement.

For example, the State Audit recently recommended that Sabeco collect 408 billion VND in special consumption tax, and Sabeco has paid it seriously. Or the recommendation that Habeco collect 931 billion VND in budget revenue, the company also implemented and paid it in a short time.

Therefore, the implementation of the Audit's recommendations must include the efforts of the auditing industry, along with the voluntary compliance with discipline and financial discipline of the audited units, and we hope that the implementation of the Audit's conclusions and recommendations will improve day by day.

- What do you expect from the higher rate in the future for the Audit recommendations, because it is clear that about 30% of the Audit recommendations have not been implemented?

Mr. Ho Duc Phuc:I think that in the future it will certainly be better, because this depends on both sides. Firstly, the audit recommendations must be correct, appropriate and highly feasible. Secondly, the efforts and responsibilities of the audited agencies and units, as well as their financial situation to implement.

And the audit recommendation is not only to handle financial matters but also to improve and change appropriate policies as well as to review and discipline violations of offending officials and organizations.

Thank you, sir./.

According to vietnamplus