MDP opposes motion on decreasing councilor numbers

While ruling People's National Congress (PNC) supports the motion submitted by the party's MP Ibrahim Shujau to seek members' views on decreasing the number of local councilors, opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) stands against it.

In the motion, Shujau questioned the wisdom of continuing to elect five councilors to each island regardless of population size in light of the heavy expenses that it carries at a time when the State is in need of economizing.

Shujau said that to date, there is no evidence that electing that many councilors has brought about meaningful improvement in administration or development of islands.

Shujau's motion aims to seek members' opinion on working with relevant State institutions to amend the law to bring down the number of elected island, atoll and city councilors.

Debating on the motion, MDP members declared that they oppose decreasing council member numbers.

MDP's Hanimadhoo MP Abdul Ghafoor Moosa said that an island having five councilors to make decisions on matters concerning the island is no cause for concern, and said that there are decisions to be made and work to be conducted even in smaller islands even besides just providing water and sewerage services.

Ghafoor went on to say that until 2024, council members received a monthly salary of MVR 12,000, which is low compared to salaries at other State institutions.

He accused that claims of this pay being too high were being made in efforts to undermine the decentralization system and to centralize power.

North Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem, meanwhile, said that even at present, expenses on political positions are much higher than the expenses made on local councilors. Hence, the government's claims that this was being proposed in view of cost cutting hold no weight, he said.

Shujau responded that the government has not spoken against decentralization itself, but that the question that needs to be asked now is whether one or two persons should be appointed by residents of each island.

Shujau said that the system cannot be reformed without changing the civil structure in councils. He said that at present, MVR 325 million is spent on elected councilors and over MVR 975 million is spent on civil staff at councils.

To date, 15 amendments have been brought to the Decentralization Act.