Gov't allocated MVR 170bn in budgets as it enters its third year, nearly matching total expenditure of previous five-year term: MP Ghafoor
27 އޯގަސްޓު 2026 | ބުރާސްފަތި 09:32Hanimaadhoo MP Abdul Ghafoor Moosa has warned that the government's flawed policies are driving the national economy into a deep recession. Expressing concern over the bloated state payroll, he noted that the government is currently forced to rely on T-bills and the pension fund to cover civil service salaries. He further highlighted that excessive recruitment in state-owned enterprises has led to declining profits and contributed to the rising value of the US dollar.
Abdul Ghafoor Moosa (Gapo), the Member of Parliament for the Hanimaadhoo constituency. | Raajje MV
As the current administration marks its third year, Parliament has authorized a total budget of 170 billion MVR, according to Abdul Ghafoor Moosa, the Member of Parliament for the Hanimaadhoo constituency. He noted that this figure already nears the total expenditure of the entire previous five-year term.
Speaking at a press conference held by the MDP Parliamentary Group, Ghafoor stated that the current economic challenges facing the Maldives are the direct result of the government's unsustainable policies. He described the situation as a nation sliding into a deep economic abyss.
Ghafoor stated that within the first three years of this administration, the People's Majlis has allocated a budget of 170 billion rufiyaa to the government. Noting that this figure nearly equals the total budget of the previous five-year term, he remarked that despite such substantial spending, there are no visible benefits to the citizens.
Discussing state expenditure, Ghafoor stated that by the end of October 2023, under the previous administration, the state payroll stood at MVR 1 billion. However, he noted that this figure has now risen to MVR 1.5 billion, meaning an additional MVR 6 billion is being spent annually on government salaries alone.
Ghafoor further alleged that these funds do not actually exist in the state treasury, claiming that the government relies on the sale of T-bills and borrowings from the pension fund to cover salary payments.
Furthermore, Ghafoor highlighted that the government's actions have caused the value of the dollar to skyrocket. He also noted that profits of state-owned enterprises have declined by 30 percent, with approximately 25 percent of those losses attributed to expenses incurred from excessive recruitment beyond the companies' operational needs.
Concluding his remarks, Ghafoor stated that the government's flawed policies are devastating the entire economy, with the general public bearing the full brunt of the consequences. He further asserted that the current administration lacks any genuine sincerity toward the people.
