Minister of Cities, Local Government, and Public Works Adam Shareef Umar has announced plans to commence a research study to bring amendments to the Decentralisation of Administrative Areas Act starting in May.
Speaking to PSM News, Minister Adam Shareef emphasised the necessity of conducting an independent study, which will be undertaken by the Maldives National University (MNU). He highlighted the tendency to introduce amendments to the act as temporary solutions, lacking thorough research.
Additionally, Minister Shareef underscored the global norm of legislating after extensive research and careful consideration of consequences. He assured that the upcoming study would adhere to rigorous scientific standards. He also pledged to ask public feedback on the existing law, gather perspectives from councils regarding pertinent issues and implementation challenges, and evaluate the effectiveness of the decentralisation system in the Maldives.
The Decentralisation Act has undergone numerous amendments, with two revisions occurring during the 19th Parliament session. The government's efforts to strengthen local councils with decentralisation include proposed amendments aimed at empowering them further.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has also proposed allocating a certain percentage of taxes from the local tourism industry to local councils. In addition, extending the lease period of inhabited islands to 25 years and granting councils permission for income-generating business activities are among the envisaged changes. Moreover, the government plans to increase block grants allocated to councils and enhance the budget for Women's Development Committee (WDC) activities.