Mujthaba Jaleel, the CEO of the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA), has been removed from his position and reassigned as a deputy minister as the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

The President’s Office spokesperson confirmed that CEO Jaleel had been transferred to the Economic Ministry on Thursday.

NSPA’s most notable recent decision was to suspend Aasandha, Maldives’ universal health care scheme, to health facilities not owned by the state. The Aasandha Company, operated under NSPA, had withdrawn its decision shortly after.

The President’s Office had then said that the decision was made without referring to it, and had absolved itself of any responsibility.

Jaleel has been replaced by Azzam Wajeeh.

The former CEO has close ties to First Lady Fathimath Ibrahim and is known to have organized several of her social and charitable events.