Minister of Home Affairs Imran Abdulla has stated the success of a decentralised system depends on the cooperation between the government and the councils. He made the statement in his speech to inaugurate the virtual orientation programme for newly elected members of the local councils and women's development committees.
Home Minister Imran, who is also the president of the Local Government Authority (LGA), said the decentralised system of the Maldives had been severely weakened when the current government came to power. However, he said the decision of President Ibrahim Solih to ratify the 8th Amendment to the Decentralisation Act had re-invigorated the system. He noted tThe 8th Amendment provides local councils with more fiscal and legal autonomy and allocates a third of council seats for female councilors as well as ensuring the finances of local councils also include revenue from leasing land, islands and lagoons, and 100 percent of the revenue generated from land and other resources in the direct jurisdiction of the council.
In his speech, Minister Imran said it was important for local councils and women's development committees to work with the government and the people in order to provide their services to their constituents and that the aim of the government is to conduct development projects and provide better public services within the decentralised system. He also urged members of the local councils and the women's development committees to focus on local development and helping their constituencies recover from the economic and health crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The virtual orientation programme is being conducted by LGA to educate newly elected members of the local councils and the women's development committees on their role and responsibilities, and provide information on the various state institutions in relation to their work.