President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced the ongoing enhancement of the performance index to foster competitiveness among local councils. He made the announcement during his address commemorating Decentralisation Day.
In his address, President Dr. Muizzu emphasised the government's commitment to ensuring full decentralisation across the country's administrative regions, empowering councils to exercise their legal authority to the fullest extent. He underscored the pivotal role of local councils as primary service providers, stressing the importance of citizen engagement in shaping council operations. He also urged ministries and institutions to facilitate information exchange to enhance council services and citizen participation in planning and execution.
Additionally, President Dr. Muizzu outlined a policy aimed at transferring uninhabited islands beyond council jurisdiction, foreseeing financial progress for councils and socio-economic benefits for island residents. In efforts to strengthen decentralisation, he highlighted the integration of all councils into a unified communication and document archival system, streamlining administrative tasks and financial transactions.
Furthermore, President Dr. Muizzu highlighted ongoing developments in strengthening council operations, implementing performance metrics for accountability, and fostering a constructive competitive environment through the Council Performance Index. In addition, he said that a dedicated ministry has been established to support decentralisation efforts, facilitating collaboration between councils, the government, and citizens.
Moreover, President Dr. Muizzu noted visible progress resulting from the establishment of the ministry, signaling a deeper integration of citizens, councils, and government in the decentralisation process.