N. Atoll Council Audit: ‘Atoll Rangers’ post created unlawfully and paid MVR 74K

The 2023 audit report has disclosed that the Noonu Atoll Council established positions outside its approved administrative framework without obtaining authorization from the Civil Service Commission (CSC), and that salaries were paid to those employees without proper attendance documentation.

According to the report issued by the Auditor General’s Office (AGO) on Sunday, the council resolved in October 2021 to hire personnel under the title “Atoll Rangers” to monitor the reefs, lagoons, and uninhabited islands within Noonu Atoll.

However, these roles were not part of the organizational structure approved under the general procedural regulation set by the CSC in line with the for Local Councils. The audit noted that the Council confirmed it had not communicated with the CSC regarding the establishment of these positions.

The audit further found breaches of the State Finance Regulations (SFR) in how the attendance of these employees was managed. It stated that the attendance of the “Rangers” was recorded merely by marking them present on days they were assigned to uninhabited islands.

It also highlighted that the attendance records were incomplete, lacking key details such as employee signatures, the council’s official seal, and the name and signature of a supervising authority who verified the records. As a result, the audit indicated it was unable to confirm whether the MVR 73,950 spent in 2023 on the Rangers’ salaries and allowances was justified by actual attendance.

Beyond these concerns, the report revealed that considerable amounts owed to the Noonu Atoll Council by various parties remain unsettled. The largest outstanding debt, in particular, is reportedly owed by the Council President, Mohamed Basheer.

With regard to council meetings, the audit observed that although Article 112 of the Decentralization Act mandates atoll councils to convene at least one general meeting per month, the Noonu Atoll Council held only eight meetings throughout 2023.

The audit concluded with recommendations aimed at addressing these shortcomings, directing the council to properly maintain attendance records in compliance with the SFR and to ensure that salary payments are processed based on verified timesheets. It also advised the council to schedule and conduct meetings as required by law.