Number of political appointees at 922: President's Office

President's Office has now disclosed the number of political appointees in the current administration. The office said last night that at present, there are 922 persons filling political posts.

The President's Office has met with severe criticism for earlier refusing to disclose the number of political appointees.

- 20 cabinet ministers

- 14 in positions of equivalent rank to that of a minister

- 93 state ministers

- 7 in positions of equivalent rank to that of a state minister

- 216 deputy ministers

- 20 in positions of equivalent rank to that of a deputy minister

- 318 senior political directors

- 8 in positions of equivalent rank to that of a senior political director

- 169 political directors

- 4 in positions of equivalent rank to that of a political director

- 4 assistant political directors

- 49 in other political posts

The President's Office said that the total number of political appointees sees frequent changes due to dismissals, resignations and new appointments.

The President's Office has earlier refused to disclose this information despite several media outlets submitting Right to Information requests seeking the details. The Information Commissioner also previously instructed the President's Office to disclose these details. However, with the total amount having then been left undisclosed, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu had dismissed 248 political appointees last year under the Economic Reform Agenda.

As per information shared by various ministries last year, the total number of political appointees then went beyond 1,400. However, during the transition to this administration, then spokesperson Mohamed Firuzul had stated that the total number of political appointees in this administration would not exceed 700.