Lower House approves Audit Bureau Law amendments

AMMAN — The Lower House on Wednesday approved amendments to the Audit Bureau Law.

During a session chaired by Speaker Abdulmunim Oddat and attended by Cabinet members, the Lower House referred the draft amendments of the integrity and anti-corruption law to its legal committee for more examination. 

The deputies rejected an article that grants judicial police status to the head of the Audit Bureau, and prevents the arrest or the prosecution of the bureau’s staff for actions related to the performance of the functions of their office and duties.

The House also rejected excluding the bureau from the civil service bylaw.

According to the draft law, the bureau's head is appointed with the rank, salary and allowances of a minister. Moreover, the bill allows the head to seek consultations from experts in the issues that require technical expertise, the cost of which to be determined by him/her and covered by the bureau's budget, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.   

Oddat called on the House’s legal committee to launch a series of extensive discussions involving the Jordan Press Association (JPA) to develop the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Commission Law in accordance with the highest standards and quality. 

The Speaker also reiterated the Chamber’s keenness on providing guarantees that ensure freedom of opinion and expression, noting that freedom of opinion and expression is a tool to identify flaws, poor performance and corruption, Petra added.