MDP deputy leader: Gov trying to send surplus political appointees to councils

The government is trying to send political appointees who they can’t employee in Male’ to local councils in islands, alleges Hisaan Hussain, deputy leader of the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP).

Joining MDP’s ‘Havaru Beru’ panel discussion on Monday night, Hisaan said that the MDP administration, which held office from 2018-2023, had allocated funds in the PSIP (Public Sector Investment Program) budget to build new offices for councils to address the shortage of space in many of the local councils.

She alleged that the People’s National Congress (PNC) administration halted the projects after assuming office.

“There isn’t any construction of a new office building for councils in any island. But scores of political staff are being appointed to these places from here. Are they to sit at councilors’ desks?” she said.

Hisaan said that instead of financially empowering and providing necessary resources to councils to ease the provision of public services, the government appears to be set on taking what little the councils have.

Ali Niyaz, the chair of MDP’s Decentralization Committee, said that the incumbent administration plans on reducing the number of elected officials at councils and increasing appointed officials.

Niyaz said he expects the administration to roll out the changes soon.

He shared a letter purportedly sent to a council by the Sports Ministry, asking the council to manage the appointment of a new hire, and saying that it would send computer equipment for the official.

“I have been informed that the Local Government Authority is pushing councils to sign agreements with ministries. Agreements to hire political staff. The councilors we have meet are saying they do not support this,” he said.

Former Deputy Mayor of Male’, Shamau Shareef said that the government was trying to hire party members to vacancies at councils, in order to silence the voice of the public.

During his presidential campaign, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu pledged to cap political appointments at 700. MDP alleges that this number now stands over 2,000. The government has refused to disclose the exact number of political appointments.