Increasing allowances for ministers and councilors will add an additional 48 million to budget, which represents a significant burden on the state: Didi

Ahmed Didi, the Member of Parliament for the Maradhoo constituency, has stated that increasing the allowances for ministers and councilors will result in an additional expenditure of approximately 48 million Rufiyaa. He noted that implementing such changes at a time when the state is heavily in debt is a matter of significant public concern.

Speaking on RaajjeTV’s "Fala Surukhee" program on Wednesday night, MP Ahmed Didi expressed concern over the Public Accounts Committee's recent decision to approve significant pay hikes and allowances. This includes a salary of MVR 95,000 for the Speaker of Parliament, a monthly car allowance of MVR 17,000 for cabinet ministers, and substantial changes to the remuneration packages for local councilors.

MP Didi stated that it is unacceptable for President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to introduce such changes after previously pledging to reduce state expenditure. However, the MP noted that harmonizing the Speaker of Parliament's salary is not an issue, given that the current take-home pay for the position is relatively low.

However, he noted that increasing the allowances for ministers and council employees while the country is in a state of economic fragility is a measure that benefits only a specific group.

MP Didi stated that international financial institutions have warned that the Maldives' economy could face bankruptcy unless measures are taken to reduce spending and control recurrent expenditure and the public sector wage bill. He further noted that increasing expenses in spite of these warnings demonstrates a disregard for the prevailing economic challenges.

Furthermore, MP Didi stated that the government's actions clearly contradict its rhetoric; while ordinary employees on modest wages are being dismissed under the guise of cost-cutting, new appointments continue to be made to high-salaried political positions.

After dismissing ordinary employees—those earning perhaps 10,000 or 15,000 Rufiyaa—they turn around the very next day and appoint someone to a political position, such as a Deputy Minister or an SOE Managing Director, with a salary of 35,000, 45,000, or even 50,000 Rufiyaa. Therefore, I see absolutely no alignment between their claims of implementing cost-cutting measures and their actual conduct.

Ahmed Didi, Member of Parliament for the Maradhoo constituency.

MP Didi stated that if the government were operating with a clear direction or plan, there would be no justification for rehiring personnel into agencies where staff reductions were recently implemented. He noted that this has become a major grievance among the public. Furthermore, MP Didi emphasized that the government's current actions are ultimately detrimental to both the citizens and the nation.