President ratifies law allowing cabinet to take over council land and assets

President Mohamed Muizzu on Tuesday ratified an amendment to the Decentralisation Act allowing the Cabinet to take over land, facilities and other immovable property under the jurisdiction of island and city councils for government development projects.

The amendment was proposed by Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan Abubakar, an independent member of Parliament, and passed by the People’s Majlis last Wednesday.

The President’s Office announced the ratification on Tuesday.

Under the amendment, the Cabinet can decide to remove facilities or immovable property from a council’s jurisdiction for development projects undertaken by the government.

Where a council has made investments in land, buildings or other property being transferred, the government is required to provide reasonable compensation for those investments.

The law also requires compensation where a third party has invested in the property affected by a Cabinet decision.

Regulations governing the assessment and payment of compensation will be formulated by the Local Government Authority (LGA).

The amendment also establishes a consultation process before property is removed from a council’s jurisdiction.

Details of the proposed project and the property affected must be made public, while councils and residents must be given 14 days to submit their views, complaints or other concerns.

The relevant ministry will then submit the matter to the Cabinet, which will have the final authority to decide whether the property should be transferred.

The legislation had drawn debate over its implications for the powers granted to councils under the decentralisation system.

The amendment comes months after local council elections in April, in which the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) won council seats in several cities and larger islands.

The ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) holds a supermajority in Parliament.