Minister Rafiu requests sufficient budget for projects instead of increasing no. of projects

Sports Minister Abdulla Rafiu, on Wednesday, has appealed to lawmakers to include 50 percent of the total cost of a project when passing the state budget for the upcoming year in order to resolve the issue of stalled and delayed projects.

South Maafannu MP Abdulla Rifau had inquired how the issue of stalled and delayed projects can be resolved when Minister Rafiu appeared before the Parliament on Wednesday for a ministerial questioning session.

In response, Minister Rafiu cited one of the solutions as proceeding with the projects that have already been commenced by diving them over the years.

The second solution cited by the Minister was including at least 50 percent of the total cost of the project in the state budget when budgeting projects which he said would pave the way to complete projects within two years at most.

“My request is that when honorable members of the parliament pass the budget, instead of including a vast number of projects, to include enough funds to ensure completion of the project or at least 50 percent (of its cost). If done so, it will be very easy for us to execute (the project),” he said.

Speaking further, Minister Rafiu underscored the importance of identifying which projects commenced at islands are important to its residents through the respective councils and their parliamentary representatives in order to divide them over years by priority.

In this regard, he said the projects that need priority in 2025 and 2026 and what is needed for their implementation needs to be identified following which adequate funds required to implement the projects need to be included in the budget. He described this course of action as the best way to resolve stalled and delayed projects.

Speaking at the Parliament back in May, Minister Rafiu said projects were stalled as many of them which require millions in funding had been allocated far less in the budget passed by the parliament for the prevailing year. He emphasized the difficulties the government has faced as a result in making the second payment for the contractor after awarding the project.

Minister Rafiu cited this as a reason behind stalled and delayed projects.

Main opposition MDP has strongly criticized the current administration over the fact that some projects initiated by the former MDP administration being stalled. The current administration has affirmed their intention to see these projects to completion.