In use of public resources, greater accountability and transparency is key

THE Auditor-General's Office (AGO) in Singapore released its latest annual report on Tuesday, and once again there have been some glaring lapses uncovered at several government ministries and agencies.

The 66-page report was made public after the AGO's audit of the financial statements of government accounts for the 2017/18 financial year. The report contains details of contract management lapses and weaknesses in information technology (IT) and financial controls, among other boo-boos.

These invariably raise pertinent questions about the ways in which taxpayer funds are spent, and whether these are properly accounted for - although the Ministry of Finance (MOF) stressed that the audit showed that public funds have been properly accounted for, and that financial statements were reliable and prepared in accordance with the law.