Local Governance Minister Adam Shareef Umar states atoll councils do not have much responsibilities apart from providing administrative assistance to islands under the current decentralization system.
Speaking to residents of AA. Mathiveri on August 19th as part of a tour of residential islands of Alifu Alifu Atoll – President Muizzu announced crucial amendments sought for the decentralization system, including the abolishment of atoll councils. The President had also described atoll councils as a "useless position" and an unnecessary "layer" in the administrative structure. 
The plan has been strongly condemned by the opposition, with some equating the abolishment of atoll councils to the abolishment of atolls.
Speaking during state media, PSM’s Raajje Miadhu program on Monday night, Minister Adam Shareef condemned remarks by certain individuals accusing the current administration of attempting to abolish atolls, citing it is not the administration’s policy.
Elaborating further, the Minister said the establishment of provinces when the MDP administration introduced the decentralization system had increased reliance on capital Male’. He added that there also contradictions in the law with the amendment which mandated island council presidents to work in atoll councils.
Minister Adam Shareef also went on to describe atoll councils as unnecessary "layer" in the administrative structure of the decentralization system. As such, he said the current administration’s vision is to reform the current composition of atoll councils.
“As you know, the natural formation of atolls in the Maldives has influenced how administrative systems are structured, so each atoll will have its own form of administrative organization,” he said.  
Minister Adam Shareef, who, for the majority of his state service, worked in the education sector, said atoll council’s administrative works should be overseen by qualified individuals similar to how there are permanent secretaries in ministries.
“[For the aforesaid post], individuals should be appointed within civil service. Based on the results they produce, it is fine to extend their term by more than five years,” he added.
While speaking at Mathiveri, the President also announced amendments to reduce the size of island councils in islands with smaller populations.  Under the proposed changes, islands with fewer than 2,000 residents would have three councilors, while those with over 2,000 would have five. City councils, however, would largely maintain their current structure.
Notably, a ruling PNC-dominated parliament recently approved amendments to the Decentralization Act, which restricted several powers previously held by councils. This includes suspension of certain powers ahead of elections.
The amendment has also received huge backlash from opposition party, which has accused the government of attempting to dismantle the decentralization system. President Muizzu, on the other hand, has defended the amendment to the Decentralization Act, stating that the reforms were made to "champion" the decentralization system.