Bodufolhudhoo Council President asks to rethink Decentralization amendments

Alif Alif (AA) Bodufolhudhoo Council President Shujau Adam has requested that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu rethink the Decentralization Act amendments that are in and will be brought into effect.

President Muizzu is currently visiting all islands in Alif Alif Atoll, with him visiting Bodufolhudhoo as well. During the President's meeting with the island residents, Shujau highlighted that the changes brought to the Decentralization Act are ones that will cause great difficulty. He specifically highlighted the changes to the hiring of employees.

He stated that the current council administrative framework is one that is brought before the Civil Service Commission (CSC), with it having to be endorsed by them as well. He went on to say that an individual is hired either on a permanent or contractual basis by including it in the administrative framework, along with it being included in the yearly budget as well.

He highlighted that due to the process of hiring an individual to council positions and with the CSC taking a while as well to respond to letters requesting as such, it would disrupt public services.

The amendments to the Decentralization Act was passed in Parliament on 6th August, with the President ratifying the bill last Thursday.

"I humbly request that President Muizzu take some more time to think about the amendments, and to implement changes that would help councils," Shujau stated.

Shujau also said that the current five member seats of council remains and appealed not to change it to three member seats. Shujau, upon learning that the President would abolish atoll councils, said that those councils are important, with him not agreeing with the concept of changing the entire system due to some atoll councils not abiding by it.

"At the atoll level, atoll councils are getting the job done at islands. Children are educated at a national level. People are being built up. And so I humbly request the President to rethink the amendments," said Shujau.

"Changing the number of council members down to three would only prove to bring difficulties. If one member is on leave and another member is unable to attend due to some other essential reason, then there will be disruptions in running the council," Shujau stated.

A statement was released by MDP and more than 60 councils to not ratify the bill concerning the amendments to the Decentralization Act, with other councils stating that they support the amendments.

Shujau also requests that the President listens to the opinions of the councils and to think upon the matter further.

President Muizzu has announced, along with the amendments to the Decentralization Act, that council sizes will see a reduction as well. If an island has a population below 2,000, then the council will have three councilors. If an island has a population above 2,000, then the council will have five councilors.

This ratio will also be adopted by Women's Development Committees. However, their committees will have their Presidents elected through an island residents vote process, as said by President Muizzu last night. He also stated that the law would be amended to make it a full time position.