Emergency motion alleging Sajidha receives special treatment

An emergency motion was moved in Parliament today, saying that Civil Service Commission (CSC) is favouring and is biased in favour of the wife of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, Sajidha Mohamed.

After becoming First Lady, Madam Sajidha took four years of unpaid leave from her CSC job. However, at the request of the Ministry of Health and the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFNDA) where she currently works, she agreed, on the 7th of this month, to work on contract basis.

Under the agreement, she works 40 hours a month. Also, she did not want a wage but the CSC has decided to pay her a wage of MVR 75 per hour as required by law.

Alleging that the CSC is acting illegally in this case and is giving permission to Sajidha to work in such a way through influence and power, an emergency motion was moved by MDP MP Yaugoob Abdulla in the parliament today. He accused the CSC of favouring her as she is 'the wife of the President'.

"It is illegal [to] interpret the Civil Service Regulation contrary to the spirit of the Constitution by reserving her today when it is known that the commission was unable to decide independently due to her exercise of positional influence," they said.

In his complaint, Yaugoob said the rules clearly state that there should be no discrimination against employees and the decision taken against Sajidha is illegal.

The motion also alleges that she took unpaid leave illegally.

“The decision is illegal and in direct violation of Articles 17 (a) and 20 of the Constitution as it is believed that the psychological impact of the decision taken by the agencies will be severe for a large number of civil servants,” the emergency motion said.

Therefore, the emergency motion called on the Civil Service Commission to cancel the agreement signed with Madam Sajidha on the 7th of this month.

When asked to vote on the emergency motion today, 21 of the 25 members present at the time voted in favour of debating. Only four members voted against debating the issue.

The Civil Service Commission had earlier been summoned to parliament for allegedly treating Madam Sajidha in a special manner. On that day, the commission's chairman Mohamed Naseeh said there was no special rule that favours the first lady. He said that if a ministry asks for someone's technical advice, the opportunity should be given even if it is the wife of the President.

The commission noted that Sajidha initially wanted to remain in office. However, the opportunity was not given because it is not available regularly and the commission does not give the opportunity to take a five-year leave.