President’s Office directs LGA to establish atoll offices

The President's Office has instructed the Local Government Authority to establish administrative offices in every atoll following the dissolution of Atoll Councils on Sunday.

The move follows amendments to the Decentralisation Act, under which the administration and governance responsibilities of atolls are transferred to the LGA after the expiration of Atoll Council terms.

The previous Atoll Councils were dissolved after newly elected council members took their oaths of office on Sunday.

The amendments to the law also revised the mandate of the LGA, granting the authority responsibility for managing administrative divisions and atolls.

The revised legislation includes a provision titled “Provision of LGA Services through Decentralisation and the Establishment of Authority Offices.”

In a letter sent to LGA Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Nimal, Secretary to the President on Public Policy Aishath Ikram stated that President Mohamed Muizzu had advised on a naming structure for the offices.

According to the letter, the offices will operate as branches of the LGA rather than separate government institutions.

The proposed naming format is:

The letter also addressed staffing arrangements following the dissolution of the Atoll Council administrations.

According to the President’s Office, the President instructed relevant authorities to ensure that employees do not lose their jobs and that salaries and benefits remain unchanged during the transition process.

“The President has instructed that administrative arrangements be made in consultation with relevant stakeholders to ensure that no employee loses their job and that there is no reduction in their current salaries or benefits,” the letter stated.