Secretary Generals of all atoll councils to be dismissed as staff are transferred to "Atoll Offices"
The Civil Service Commission has confirmed to RaajjeMV that Secretary Generals of atoll councils have been dismissed this week despite their civil service status, while other administrative staff are being transferred to the newly established "Atoll Offices" under President Muizzu’s administration. Opposition figures have criticized the move, alleging that these structural changes are politically motivated.
President Muizzu with members of the ADh. Atoll Council: Many allege that the President's move to abolish atoll councils and replace them with central government-administered "Atoll Offices" is a deliberate attempt to dismantle the decentralized system of governance. | Presidents Office
The Secretaries General of all atoll councils across the Maldives have been abruptly dismissed from their posts.
The Civil Service Commission has confirmed to RaajjeMV that Secretary Generals of Atoll Councils have been dismissed this week, despite their positions being civil service roles. Furthermore, the Commission stated that efforts have commenced to transfer other civil service staff working at Atoll Councils to the newly established "Atoll Offices" created by President Muizzu.
Ibrahim Rasheed, Counsel General of the Civil Service Commission, informed RaajjeMV that all Atoll Council Secretaries General have been dismissed following the dissolution of the previous atoll council structures under recent amendments to the Decentralization Act. He clarified that although the Secretary General is a civil service position, appointments are made to coincide specifically with the term of the respective councils.
Rasheed stated that while the contracts for most Secretaries General were set to expire in November this year, they were terminated ahead of schedule under the redundancy policy.
Rasheed stated that the Civil Service Commission has commenced the process of transferring civil service staff previously working at Atoll Councils to the newly established Atoll Offices created by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. He further noted that the administrative procedures to transition these employees to the Atoll Offices are currently underway in accordance with established regulations.
Furthermore, Rasheed confirmed to RaajjeMV that no official name has yet been approved for the atoll offices established by President Muizzu, which mirror the administrative structure seen during former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s tenure. The public has previously expressed concern and criticized the government over the failure to finalize a name for these offices, noting that the delay has brought numerous essential services to a standstill.
Opposition groups have alleged that the sudden dismissal of Secretary Generals from all atoll councils—who held civil service positions—was a calculated move to appoint individuals who will provide political leverage for President Muizzu.
