Following decision to hand over administration of atolls to LGA, government proposes amendment to bring LGA employees under jurisdiction of Civil Service

The government has submitted an amendment to the Decentralization Act to bring employees of the Local Government Authority (LGA) under the jurisdiction of the Civil Service.

The amendment was introduced during Tuesday's parliamentary session by Hamad Abdulla, the Member of Parliament for the North Fuvahmulah constituency.

Presenting the bill, the member stated that the government's objective in proposing this legislation is to strengthen the administration of the Local Government Authority (LGA) by reclassifying its staff as civil service employees.

Pursuant to Section 61(l) of the Decentralization Act, the Board of the Local Government Authority (LGA) is vested with the power to appoint and dismiss staff, oversee administrative affairs, and facilitate the fulfillment of the Authority's statutory responsibilities.

The amendment proposed by the government seeks to repeal that specific provision. The amendment aims to strip the Local Government Authority (LGA) Board of its current authority and reclassify LGA staff as civil service employees.

Under the government-proposed amendment, the Civil Service Commission will be responsible for the appointment and dismissal of Local Government Authority (LGA) staff, acting upon the advice of the authority’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). In addition to the recruitment and termination of staff, the CEO will serve as the responsible head for all other administrative matters concerning the authority's personnel.

Furthermore, the amendment specifies that the CEO, acting on the advice of the Board, shall have the authority to determine the authority's organizational structure, including staff positions, classifications, requirements, and responsibilities. This structure must then be submitted to and approved by the Civil Service Commission.

The amendment stipulates that employee salaries and allowances shall be determined by the National Pay Commission in accordance with the State Salary Policy Act.

Under the Decentralization Act, the Local Government Authority (LGA) serves as the apex body responsible for monitoring and coordinating the operations and activities of local councils. Furthermore, following the dissolution of atoll councils, the authority has been mandated to take over and provide all services previously rendered by those administrative bodies.

Concerns are mounting over the government's decision to strip the Local Government Authority (LGA) of its independence, dissolve the authority of its board, and transition its staff under the Civil Service Commission.