Audit Report: Thulusdhoo Council Paid Over MVR 870,000 in Overtime Without Verifying Work

The Office of the Auditor General has stated that the North Thulusdhoo Council office paid overtime money without verifying the work done during overtime. In the 2024 Compliance Audit Report of the North Thulusdhoo Council office released by the Office of the Auditor General, it was noted that while the North Thulusdhoo Council office spent MVR 870,319 as overtime money during the year 2024, there is no documentation showing whether the council office verified what specific work employees did during overtime, whether permission was granted to do such work during overtime, and whether it was work that absolutely had to be done during overtime. The report states that there is no record whatsoever of what work an employee who logged extra hours in the overtime logs actually performed during those extra hours, yet those logs were authorized by the council office and overtime money was paid. The report states that information provided indicates that when employees log extra hours using the HR system used by the council office, details of the work performed during overtime cannot be recorded. The report highlights that even if work performed during extra hours is not logged in the system, this information has not been maintained by the council office in any other way, on a separate sheet, or in a book. The report states that if extra hours are logged without including details of the work performed during overtime, it will not be known whether the council office verified whether that work was absolutely necessary to be done during overtime or was work that could not be completed during official hours, and if such information is not visible and the council office approves extra hour logs, there would be an opportunity to disburse overtime money for matters that should not have required payment. To correct these issues, the Office of the Auditor General advised setting up arrangements so that employees can log extra hours by including information about the work performed during overtime, and directing that overtime money must not be paid unless the council office verifies and confirms whether the work performed during overtime was indeed work that could not be completed during official hours.