President Muizzu to seek dissolution of Atoll Councils during next parliament session

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced that his administration will submit amendments to the Decentralization Act to dissolve Atoll Councils ahead of next year’s local council elections.

Speaking in a meeting with residents of Mathiveri during his current tour of Alifu Alifu atoll, President Muizzu said the amendment will be sent to parliament when it reconvenes after its current recess, before the March 2025 council elections.

Calling Atoll Councils a “useless layer of decentralization,” President Muizzu said island councils will instead work directly with ministries and state-owned companies.

“The layer being removed will allow the people to become more empowered,” President Muizzu said.

“Island councils will agree that Atoll Councils are unnecessary.”

The President said that the government’s aim is to strengthen accountability and ensure councils operate with proper checks and balances, while continuing to guide them to the extent needed.

The amendment will include reducing the size of councils as well, he said.

President Muizzu said islands with fewer than 2,000 residents will have three-member councils and islands with more than 2,000 residents will have five-member councils.

Women’s Development Committees (WDCs) will follow the same ratio, although the entire island will vote directly for the WDC chairperson.

President Muizzu said the post will be made full-time to empower women and address long-standing challenges faced by committees.

City councils, he added, will continue under a similar framework.

Amendments to the Decentralization Act had been introduced earlier this month and came into effect last week.

President ratifies amendments to the Decentralization Act