The government has submitted amendments to the law aimed at preventing councils from hiring permanent and contract employees, as well as leasing land and lagoons, during the final year of their term.

The amendments to the Decentralization Act of Maldives, were submitted on behalf of the government by Ibrahim Hussain, main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC)’s MP for South Fuvahmulah constituency. The first reading of the bill was held on Monday.

Among the amendments in the bill are provisions stating that permanent and contract employees cannot be hired without approval from the Ministry of Finance and Local Government Authority (LGA), and that land, lagoons, and reef areas within the council's jurisdiction cannot be leased.

In addition to this, the amendment submitted by the government through the PNC lawmaker for South Fuvahmulah constituency states that new development projects not included in the councils' existing development plans cannot be initiated.

The amendment stipulates that regardless of what is stated in other sections of the law, if there are 365 days or less remaining in the term of local councils as specified in the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives, these matters cannot be decided differently.

As the current councils' term has less than 365 days remaining when the amendment was proposed, once the amendment is passed and gazetted, councils will lose their independent authority in hiring employees, leasing properties, and implementing new development projects for the remainder of their term.

Among the proposed amendments is also a provision that the government should release revenue to councils only after deducting any taxes owed to the state under any law, and any unpaid utility bills that are more than six months overdue.

The changes also include a requirement for councils to provide their bank account statements to the Ministry of Finance upon request.

In response to the amendment, the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has called on councilors to reject and stand against the changes to the Decentralization Act that reduce council powers. In a statement released on Sunday, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) said that the amendment bill to the Decentralization Act currently submitted to the People's Majlis by the government is a bill aimed at completely stripping councils of their power and erasing the decentralized system.

MDP stated that they condemn the actions of the PNC government, which is using all state powers to eliminate the country's councils before the upcoming council elections. They believe the government is working to exert influence over the islands in order to manipulate the council.