PNC resolution on downsizing councils sent to committee for review

The parliamentary resolution presented by ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), seeking the opinion of the legislative assembly regarding downsizing local councils and adjusting pay based on population size has been accepted into the Parliament and sent to the Decentralization Committee for review.

The resolution, sponsored by Baarah MP Ibrahim Shujau, was accepted into the Parliament with a majority vote of 51-11 on Wednesday. The dissenting votes all came from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

The resolution has now been sent to the Decentralization Committee for review.

The Decentralization Act was enacted in 2010, giving birth to a decentralized system of governance in the Maldives.

With his resolution, Shujau questions where the legally-mandated minimum of five councilors in all islands, irrespective of the size of the population, is appropriate, given the pressing need to cut government spending and reduce wastage.

He said that despite the four local council elections, the election of thousands of councilors and billions of Rufiyaa in government spending in the last 15 years, the decentralization system contributed nothing towards the development of local islands.

He also said that there are repeated complaints that councilors from opposition parties refuse to cooperate with the central government.

Shujau also opinioned that the budget for local councils should be reduced, especially the spending on salaries. He said that salaries for councilors shouldn’t be uniform, but based on population size and workload.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has repeatedly said he wishes to downsize local councils. In May, he announced plans to push amendments to the Decentralization Act in order to downsize councils in islands with small populations.

He said he plans to amend the Decentralization Act in order to:

• Elect three-member councils in islands with populations under 2,000 people, and five-member councils in islands with populations above 2,000 people.
• Elect three-member women’s development committees in islands with populations under 2,000 people, and five-member women’s development committees in islands with populations above 2,000 people.
• Have presidents of women’s development committees elected through a direct vote.
• Cap the number of city councilors at the current level.
• Increase women’s quota in councils from 33 percent to 40 percent.

He also announced plans to introduce a provision to the Decentralization Act to empower the Finance Ministry to ensure councils restrict spending from block grant to fulfilling their legal duties.

The changes are opposed by the main opposition MDP, who have accused the government of attempting to deprive the people of their power and concentrate all powers to the central government.