Pres. says councils have no mandate to hold gov’t accountable as decentralization faces rollback criticism
The president went on to explain that the law clearly outlines which bodies are responsible for holding the executive branch accountable, and local councils are not included among them. He said that under the principle of separation of powers, councils operate as a component of the executive branch rather than as an oversight mechanism.
President Muizzu speaks at the opening ceremony of the PNC office. | Viraasee
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has asserted that council members are not elected to hold the government accountable and that local councils do not have the legal authority to do so.
He made the remarks while speaking at the official inauguration of the People’s National Congress (PNC) party office, located in a building that previously served as the party’s headquarters and was extensively renovated.
Muizzu stressed that councils are not constitutionally mandated institutions for overseeing government accountability, warning that electing council members for such a purpose conveys a misguided message.
The president went on to explain that the law clearly outlines which bodies are responsible for holding the executive branch accountable, and local councils are not included among them. He said that under the principle of separation of powers, councils operate as a component of the executive branch rather than as an oversight mechanism.
Despite the president’s position that councils holding the government accountable is inappropriate, numerous development projects across several islands remain stalled due to administrative challenges within the government. Historically, the decentralization framework was designed to empower citizens, rather than to position councils as mere extensions of the executive’s administrative structure.
Since Muizzu assumed office, substantial changes have been introduced to the decentralization system, which critics argue have curtailed public empowerment. These measures include restrictions imposed by the central government on councils’ ability to recruit staff, as well as reductions in their authority to manage and implement local projects.
Commenting on the broader political landscape, Muizzu criticized the opposition’s campaign message of electing councilors to hold the government accountable, describing it as a fundamental misunderstanding of the system.
He concluded by calling on the public to vote for candidates from his party in the upcoming local council elections, stating that this would ensure smooth governance.
