Parliament: President lied, council staff’s salary set down by CSC

The Parliament, on Monday, has accused President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu of lying, claiming that only the parliament had the power to increase the salaries of the administrative staff employed in local councils.

President Muizzu, in response to a query by Moosa Sabir from N. Naalafushi – an administrative staff at the island’s council regarding salary increments for administrative staff in the civil service on the ‘Raees ge Javaabu’ series earlier this month, acknowledged the salaries of administrative staff in local councils are low

The President, citing that the parliament has categorized the salaries of council staff in a very low tier, said the issue can only be resolved within the parliament.

While opening Monday’s sitting, Deputy Speaker Ahmed Saleem who was presiding over the sitting refuted the claims by the President.

Saleem said the Civil Service Act and regulations formulated by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) under the Act are enforced on council administrative staff under Article 127 (a) of the Decentralization Act.

Henceforth, Saleem said salaries and allowances of council administrative staff are implemented in the same manner as civil servants.

He further detailed that the salaries and allowances of council administrative staff will be set down by CSC, at the recommendation of the Finance Ministry as per the Civil Service Act.

“While the matter is this clear, (we) note there is nothing which the parliament needs to undertake immediately to revise the salaries and allowances of council administrative staff,” Saleem added.

President Muizzu, in his response to Sabir, said even if the government wishes to increase the salaries, it cannot be done.

“An immediate remedy can be brought to this through the parliament. By undertaking various efforts within the parliament,” he stressed.