Office of the Auditor General (OAG) has been elected to the governing board of Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) -- a regional body of 46 Asian countries.

ASOSAI is the member of International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI). INTOSAI is a specialized agency of United Nations established for mutual cooperation among the audit agencies across the world.

The 13th general assembly of ASOSAI held in Kuala Lumpur from Feb 10 to 13 elected Nepal as one of the six elected members in ASOSAI´s governing board. There are 11 members in ASOSAI government board including five ex-officio members reports My Republica online.

This is the first time that Nepal has been elected in governing board of the regional organization established in 1979. Nepal is a founder member of ASOSAI.

Speaking at a press meet on Sunday, Auditor General Bhanu Prasad Acharya expressed happiness over Nepal´s election to ASOAI governing board. "It is also a responsibility toward promoting accountability and reforms in good governance,” Acharya added.  Nepal will serve in ASOSAI government board until 2018.

OAG has recently got its overall performance peer reviewed by India´s Comptroller and Auditor General (ICAG).

According to a press release issued by OAG, ICAG´s Peer Review Report states that OAG has completed its reports timely every year. The report concluded that OAG do not have needful financial and administrative independence for making its tasks effective.

Peer review is conducted from auditor agency of other countries to assess its own level of auditing.

Likewise, local governments like village development committees and municipalities as well as several projects run in the foreign grants have not come under scrutiny of OAG, according to the report. The peer review was conducted this year after a hiatus of nine years.

Acharya also informed that OAG has started its pilot project of auditing through electronic medium in 15 districts starting this year.