LGA terminates, lessens the suspension of 78 councilors

Local Government Authority (LGA) has made the decision to terminate and lessen the penalties placed on 78 local councilors by the authority during former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s administration.

During the Board meeting of LGA last Wednesday, the authority made the decision to outright terminate the unpaid suspension of 40 councilors, terminate the unpaid suspension of 37 councilors with a warning, and shorten the suspension period of one councilor to one month.

“This authority, in collaboration with Ministry of Finance, is working on renewing the salaries and allowances of the councilors in light of the decision to terminate and lessen their suspension,” wrote LGA, in a statement it issued announcing the decision.

The councilors were penalized for a number of reasons, including issuance of statements against Yameen’s administration and holding meetings with Indian Ambassador Akhilesh Mishra without prior permission from LGA.