Housing Minister: Some councils do not accept that executive power is vested in the government

Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said that some local councils do not accept that the executive power, in the system of separation of the three state powers, is vested in the government.

The Housing Minister said this in an interview to Sun Online.

“Some councils do not accept that the government is the policymaker. They do not accept that, in the separation of state powers, the government is the executive branch and the local councils are a layer within the government. This poses several difficulties,” he said.

In this regard, he said that some councils lease and sell lands without seeking government consent, and efforts are ongoing by the government to put an end to this practice.

He noted that agreements are put in place when lands are handed over to councils, and stressed that the councils cannot lease lands in violation of these agreements.

Housing Ministry recently notified all councils to ensure that relevant government policies are followed in the use of lands for different purposes, and also to seek permission from the President when leasing lands.