Muscat: Oman’s Consultative Council, the Majlis Al Shura received a confidential written reply from the government over the request filed by sixteen members to grill the Minister of Higher Education over alleged administrative and financial irregularities in the ministry.
A Shura member who wished not to be named told Gulf News that the government was request to grill the minister was reviewed by audit authorities who determined the irregularities were minor and not illegal.
The Shura member said the reply comes at no surprise and its a further indication of the weakness of the Shura council.
A request to probe the Minister of Sports Affairs and the Minister of Information made in December has also been unsuccessful.
Article 58 of the Basic Law stipulates that upon a request signed by at least fifteen members of the council, any of the “services ministers” may be subject to interrogation on matters related to them exceeding their mandates in violation of the law.
The requests to probe Education Minister came after the local daily newspaper, Al Zaman, highlighted administrative and financial irregularities in the Ministry of Higher Education.
Al Zaman published with evidence financial losses exceeding one milion riyals which it said was due to the negligence and poor planning by the ministry, mostly in scholarships.
