The swearing-in of newly elected local council members and the signing of official declarations by representatives of the Women’s Development Committees have commenced, the Local Government Authority reported Sunday. While the majority of these events were conducted Sunday morning, the authority noted that specific cities and islands scheduled proceedings at varying times throughout the day.
The coordinated effort, overseen by the Local Government Authority, began at 9:00 a.m. with simultaneous ceremonies across various islands. Judges and magistrates administered the oaths for representatives entering the fifth legislative term of local councils. Following this procedure, members of the nation’s five city councils will take their oaths, while corresponding Women’s Development Committee members sign their official declarations.
According to the Local Government Authority, 677 of the required 678 councillors were successfully elected prior to the inauguration, and 676 formally took their oaths Sunday; administrative arrangements for the remaining officials will be finalised later. Concurrently, 673 members were elected to the Women’s Development Committees, which also required 678 representatives, with 662 formally inaugurated Sunday.
Once officials take their oaths and sign declarations, local councils will convene to elect deputy mayors and council vice presidents, launching the five-year legislative term. Women’s Development Committee members will similarly elect their vice presidents. The authority highlighted that these bodies, operating under the Decentralisation Act since the inaugural ceremonies on 26 February 2011, are legally mandated to fortify decentralised governance.