Addu City to consist of a Mayor plus six Council members

Concern was voiced in the Parliament today that following the recent decision to separate Meedhoo and Hulhudhoo from Addu City, the next Addu City Council to be elected will consist of a Mayor and only six Council members.

According to the Decentralisation Act (Local Government Act):

Addu City, including the connected islands, Meedhoo, and Hulhudhoo, had a population reaching 30,000. Therefore, the current City Council consists of a Mayor plus 12 Council members (total 13).

Recent changes have resulted in the separation of Meedhoo and Hulhudhoo from Addu City Council, leaving Hithadhoo, Feydhoo, Maradhoofeydhoo, and Maradhoo as part of Addu City, which has a population of approximately 29,000.

Hithadhoo South MP Ibrahim Nazil highlighted in Parliament that this population size qualifies for a Mayor and six Council members, totaling seven. He raised concerns about this number being insufficient compared to other councils with smaller populations and urged for legislative amendments to rectify the situation.

An amendment proposed by Ibrahim Falah, MP for Inguraidhoo Constituency, would result in the Fuvahmulah City Council having more members than the Addu City Council.

The amendment specifically outlines the number of members for Malé City Council and Fuvahmulah City Council:

Although the amendment does not specify the number of Council members for Addu City Council, Thinadhoo City Council, or Kulhudhuffushi City Council, based on the population ratio under the existing law, the next Council formed for each of these cities would need to consist of a Mayor plus six Council members (total 7).