Libya’s state watchdog, the Audit Bureau, highlighted the fact last Sunday (16 February) that it had saved Libya LD 583 million in overpriced domestic contracts.
It said it did this by reducing the value of the contracts referred to it for examination and review. Large state contracts have to be referred to the Audit Bureau for approval in order to receive funding from the Central Bank of Libya.
It reported that out of the 369 contracts it reviewed in 2023:
- 197 (53.39 percent) contracts worth LD 19.066 billion were approved
- 172 (46.61 percent) contracts worth LD 19.102 were rejected
Audit Bureau refers 142 violations
The Audit Bureau also highlighted the fact that in 2023 it had referred 142 violations and crimes to the competent authorities, supported by all the necessary evidence.
Audit Bureau’s authority ends with referral
Indirectly replying to public complaints and perception of a high rate of corruption in Libya, the Audit Bureau pointed out that its jurisdiction with regards to these alleged violations and crimes, revealed to it as a result of its examination and overview, ends with the referral of files to other competent authorities.
In other words, the Audit Bureau is not a law enforcement agency.
