The administration of local councils has been significantly reinforced through recent systemic reforms, according to Adam Shareef Umar, Minister of Cities, Local Government and Public Works. At a consultative meeting marking Decentralisation Day, he outlined a vision to restructure government operations to empower constituencies, foster island development, and advance civic well-being.
The minister acknowledged that while the decentralised system has faced challenges over the past fifteen years, it has shown steady progress. Since the ratification of the 2008 Constitution, he said, one of the nation’s most significant achievements has been enabling a broader segment of the population to serve their communities. Delivering services closer to the people has yielded systemic improvements, and under President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, the government has introduced robust policies to strengthen this framework.
“During this brief period, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has successfully restructured several previously centralised services to be more accessible to the citizens residing in the islands,” the Minister stated.
He added: “In the past, island residents seeking basic [automated teller machine] ATM services were burdened with the necessity of travelling to other regions; today, however, that hardship has been alleviated. The nationwide facilitation of bank ATM services on every island is a milestone we recognise as a critical step in bringing previously centralised services directly to the people, thereby reinforcing our decentralised system.”
The ministry has established five core policies to grant financial autonomy to councils, expand service delivery, and ensure transparency through public consultation. Support for the Local Government Authority and regional councils is pledged, alongside integration of ICT resources and expansion of public works. Reflecting on the system’s evolution, the minister expressed satisfaction that the public has embraced decentralisation, citing a 2016 Maldives National University study recognising it as an effective model. He described it as a localised approach aligning services with civic philosophy, empowering citizens and institutions to defend public rights.