President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has appointed Mohamed Aslam as the Minister of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.

Aslam took his oath of office at a ceremony held at the President’s Office on Sunday morning, with Supreme Court Justice Dr. Azmiralda Zahir presiding over the ceremony.

Aslam was already a serving cabinet member, as the Minister of National Planning and Infrastructure, prior to the recent reorganization of government, following Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Aminath Athifa’s resignation from the post.

The president on Thursday dissolved the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and shifted its responsibilities to the Ministry of National Planning and Infrastructure, officially renaming it the Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.

Staff previously employed at the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development are to be transferred to the newly named Ministry of National Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.

The President’s Office said that Athifa resigned “in light of poor health rendering her unable to perform the duties required of a cabinet portfolio”. She is to have shared details of her health condition with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, prior to making her decision.

At the first cabinet meeting held following her resignation, the president and the cabinet acknowledged the “sincerity and dedication” with which she served her country.