CEO of LGA, Zulfa states in a press conference that the order to Kendikulhudhoo Council to annul their statement was made due to the inevitable delay in performing the inquiry which may result in negating relevance of any related action taken.
CEO of Local Government Authority (LGA), Dr Mariyam Zulfa has stated that the company’s decree to annul the Noonu atoll Kendikulhudhoo Council’s statement alleging that the Executive had misused State resources amid President Dr Mohamed Muizzu's most recent tour across the islands was issued due to the inquiry on the case warranting an extended period of time, which may result in negating relevance of any related action taken.
The statement by the council expressing concerns in relation to the President’s requests to vote for government affiliated candidates during the upcoming parliamentary elections amid his recent presidential tour across atolls was ordered to be annulled by the LGA through a letter signed by CEO Zulfa which was delivered to the President of the Kendikulhudhoo Council, Mohamed Rauf.
However, the opposition-led Kendikulhudhoo Council had refused to heed the order to annul their statement.
Attorney General, Ahmed Usham had also addressed this case, maintaining that the LGA did not possess the legal authority to order to nullify the council’s statement.
Responding to a question by Mihaaru News during the press conference held today, Zulfa spoke in defence of LGA regarding the issue.
Zulfa remarked that some stories are circulating across social media and implored to disregard the unverified rumors spread via anonymous accounts.
“Managing the office is the CEO’s task. Therefore, as my conscience believes that the statement released will negatively affect the rights of the honorable President, we ordered to proceed in a manner that would not diminish the respect for the administration,” Zulfa said.
She stated that the President is someone the people has elected for a five-year term and that consequently, the President, alongside his office, must be warranted respect.
Zulfa stated that expedited actions were taken regarding the Kendikulhudhoo Council matter and asserted that their aim was not to impede nor diminish the decentralization system.
She highlighted that the Attorney General’s office is an institution that offers counsel to State institutions upon request and that their counsel can be proceeded to the board of LGA as well. While the most recent convention of the board was held on the 29th of last month, the statement of the Kendikulhudhoo Council was issued on the 2nd of this month.
She stated that the next meeting of the board is slated for the 29th of this month as it stands and asserted that as the delay was not perceived as a suitable procedure for such a highly sensitive matter, the statement to annul was delivered ahead of the board meeting.
“As the next process of taking the matter to the board falls on the 29th of March and the matter is highly sensitive, the relevance of the issue will be diminished by the time that point is reached, won’t it? Hence, I issued the order as the person running the institution,” Zulfa said.
She further said that the letter of the Attorney General addressing the situation was received last Thursday and that he had further contacted her through a phone call and inquired about the matter as well. Zulfa shared that the Attorney General had highlighted the Constitutional stipulation that an inquiry is required to be performed in relation to such matters.
“Performing the inquiry can only be done after going through a lengthy procedure,” Zulfa stated.
Addressing this issue, the Minister of Cities, Local Government and Public Works, Adam Shareef assured that no action will be taken against statements released by the council in the future.
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