Nasheed urges PNC councillors to oppose bill expanding cabinet powers over council land

Former President and Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Chairperson Mohamed Nasheed has called on councillors from the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) to join the opposition in opposing a bill that would give the Cabinet of Ministers the power to reclaim land and property under local council jurisdiction.

The call came after an amendment to the Decentralisation Act was introduced in Parliament on Wednesday by Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan Aboobakuru, an independent member who supports the government.

One of the main provisions of the bill would allow the Cabinet to remove land and property from a council's jurisdiction for government development projects.

The proposed amendment states that, notwithstanding any provision of the Decentralisation Act or any other law, the Cabinet may decide to transfer land or property from a council's authority for the implementation of a government project.

Once the decision is communicated to the relevant council by the Local Government Authority (LGA), the land or property would immediately cease to be under the council's authority and become state property. The decision would also have to be published.

Responding to the proposal in a post on X, Nasheed said PNC MPs had already surrendered their powers to President Mohamed Muizzu and argued that the proposed amendment would now reduce the powers of local councils.

"MPs are regretting that today. This time, it is the turn of PNC councillors. I hope that as the Decentralisation Act strips power from councils, PNC councillors will also protest alongside MDP," Nasheed wrote.

Under the existing Decentralisation Act, the President has the authority to determine council boundaries and jurisdictions. That provision has previously been used to remove islands and lagoons from council jurisdiction, with compensation required for investments made on the affected land.

The proposed amendment would also require councils to hand over land requested for government development projects regardless of the provisions of other laws, including before an island or city physical development plan has been approved.

In addition, the bill seeks to amend the code of conduct for councillors to require cooperation with government projects carried out in the public interest.

It also proposes prohibiting councils from obstructing government projects without reasonable cause or making decisions that delay or halt such projects.

The bill was introduced after the local council elections in April, in which the MDP secured majorities in all city councils and a number of island councils.