Muizzu says Solih's pledged allowance hikes unlikely

President-elect Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said that allowances will not be increased under his administration as promised by MDP's presidential candidate, outgoing Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, during the presidential election.

With days to go for last month's election, President Solih had announced that the current MVR 5,000 pension for the elderly will be increased to MVR 7,000. In addition, the level of financial assistance given to people with disabilities will be reviewed and additional benefits will be provided. However, the government has not announced a date for the increase.

Given the economic situation in the country, the allowance cannot be increased as President Solih promised, Muizz said, in an exclusive interview with Atoll Times' sister publication Dhauru on Thursday.

Muizzu said the allowances could be increased after the respective agencies clarify the information and consider the economic situation in the country. Especially for the elderly, the allowance does not seem likely to be increased, he said

He, however, added that what the current government has started doing will be implemented by providing more options.

"The first response is, I don't think so [Increasing the allowance for the elderly], but then we will go to NSPA and all such places. Once we do, we will know the real statistics”, Muizzu explained.

He said the transitional office will start clarifying the information from the agencies on Sunday.