After stripping councils of their powers, Falah seeks their support

After ratifying amendments to the Decentralization Act that effectively strip local councils of their powers, Ibrahim Falah, the Member of Parliament for the Inguraidhoo constituency and Parliamentary Group Leader of the People's National Congress (PNC), has called upon those same councils for their support and cooperation.

Speaking at the campaign launch for People’s National Congress (PNC) candidates contesting from Kulhudhuffushi in this April’s Local Council and Women’s Development Committee elections, Falah stated that the President is a leader who makes pledges with a sincere heart and a genuine intent to fulfill them for the people.

It must be reiterated that our honorable President is a leader who makes pledges to the people with a sincere heart and a genuine intent to fulfill them. Therefore, the support of local councils is vital to ensuring the successful completion of the large-scale development projects he has initiated across the cities and various regions of the Maldives.

PNC PG Leader Ibrahim Falah

Falah’s remarks come at a time when the Muizzu administration has significantly curtailed the powers of local councils, effectively undermining their autonomy. Under recent legislative amendments introduced by the Muizzu government, councils are now prohibited from hiring permanent or contract staff during the final year of their term. Furthermore, the administration has halted new development projects and restricted councils from leasing land or lagoons, effectively bringing local development initiatives to a standstill.

Furthermore, all council bank accounts must now be operated in accordance with the procedures established by the Ministry of Finance.