Special audit ordered into all provincial companies

The Office of the Auditor General has been ordered to conduct a special investigation into the formation and operation of all provincial companies.

Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts made the recommendation in its consolidated review report tabled last week.

“The committee recommends that Office of the Auditor General conduct special investigation into formation and operation of all provincial companies, with clear terms of reference to being provided by Public Accounts Committee and report back to Parliament within six months,” the report stated.

The investigation comes amid concerns about the iTaukei Affairs Board’s governance of its affiliated entities.

The committee found the board does not have clear and comprehensive regulations and policies to govern and guide all its affiliated entities, including provincial councils and provincial companies.

Provincial companies are business entities linked to Fiji’s 14 provinces and operate under the iTaukei Affairs Board’s oversight.

The committee recommended the board review its regulations to implement clear and comprehensive policies and guidelines to govern all affiliated entities.

The findings are part of broader concerns about the board's operations, including its failure to maintain proper accounting records and having no audited accounts since 2007.

The special investigation will examine how provincial companies were formed and how they have been operating, with the Auditor General expected to report findings back to Parliament within six months.

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