Govt submits amendment to abolish atoll councils
The move comes after earlier amendments to the Decentralisation Act, which reduced the number of members on island councils.
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The government has submitted a constitutional amendment to abolish Atoll Councils from the next local council elections.
The bill was introduced on behalf of the government by Baarah MP Ibrahim Shujau, Deputy Leader of the PNC Parliamentary Group.
Under Article 231(a)(3) of the Constitution, Atoll Councils are part of the administrative structure of councils, with the Atoll Council President ranking above the presidents of island councils within the atoll.
Shujau’s amendment proposes the removal of this provision, effectively eliminating Atoll Councils from the decentralised governance framework.
However, the bill states that current elected Atoll Councils will remain in place until the end of their existing terms. If passed, the present councils would be the last to function under the Constitution.
The move comes after earlier amendments to the Decentralisation Act, which reduced the number of members on island councils. President Mohamed Muizzu has previously stated that abolishing Atoll Councils and reducing council membership are part of efforts to make the decentralisation system more cost-effective.
Shujau’s bill also contains a separate amendment requiring a constituency vote before an MP loses their seat due to leaving their party, switching parties or being expelled.
