Bid to grill minister in Oman falls on deaf ears
Allegations of financial irregularities have been brought against the Education Ministry
Muscat: Oman’s consultative council, the Majlis Al Shura, has not received any response in its request to grill the Minister of Higher Education. The council made the request amidst allegations of adminsitrative and financial irregularities in the ministry.
Sources in the council told Gulf News that a meeting will be held on Wednesday about the ignored request and a statement will be issued following the meeting.
Oman’s local daily newspaper, Al Zaman, highlighted the irregularities in a published article providing evidence of financial losses exceeding one million riyals which it says was due to negligence and poor planning by the ministry, mostly in regards to scholarships.
The financial irregularities include unjust disbursment, assignment of tenders to companies at higher costs and not imposing fines on some companies for delays. The ministry stands accused of exploiting its position for personal interests.
Al Zaman also cited that thee Cultural Attaché of the Oman Embassy rented a building in Cairo and then raised the rent value after a period.
The money was then transferred to the Minster’s account in one of the Sultanate’s local banks.
The Majlis Al Shura registered irregularities of 5,800 local scholarships projects.
Fighting corruption has topped the list of concerns for Omanis in 2015.
