Pres. proposes plan for full-time Council Pres. and Vice Pres. with allowances for councilors

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has proposed an idea of having the President and Vice President of the council work full-time at the office to run it, while other council members would receive an allowance.

Speaking about reducing the size or composition of councils in Fiyoari island of Gaaf Dhaal atoll, the president said that he had previously expressed the idea of reducing the number of councils and that changes would be made after consulting with the public and all relevant parties. He noted that one concern was that reducing the number of councilors might affect democratic representation.

The president has suggested that keeping the number of councilors unchanged while designating the Council President and Vice President as full-time positions could be a way to reduce costs. He proposed that in council elections, only the positions of Council President and Vice President would be elected as full-time positions, while the current number of councilors would be maintained but as members who receive an allowance for each session they attend.

The president said this model could also be applied to the Women's Development Committee. The committee's President and Vice President could be made full-time positions, while other members could receive allowances on a "per sitting" basis for the days they participate in meetings. He added that when councilors transition to receiving allowances, the law could be amended to ensure that the allowances for part-time councilors have the status of a salary, thus ensuring they receive the necessary benefits, addressing concerns of the Women's Development Committee (WDC) members.

The current administration has decided to reduce the number of elected councilors. The president stated on 7 July 2024 at a gathering of the main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) that changes would be made to reduce the number of island councilors in the atolls and restructure the composition of atoll councils.

The president said that the councils established under the decentralization system have become too large for the state to sustain. He pointed out that while a single president is elected to run a country, having seven councilors represent an island with about 300 people is a significant expense from the budget for running councils. The president said he would propose amendments to change the current structure of councils.