The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has decided that the Secretary General of Thaa Atoll Kinbidhoo Council may remain in her position despite her younger brother being elected council president, while requiring some of her responsibilities to be reassigned.

Mohamed Shafeeu was elected and sworn in as president of the Kinbidhoo Council on 17 May. He is the younger brother of the council's Secretary General, Aminath Sahiyya.

Under the Civil Service Commission Act, the head of an office responsible for employing a civil servant cannot be the employee's parent, child, spouse, sibling or half-sibling.

Following a review of the matter, the CSC instructed the council to delegate financial management responsibilities that would ordinarily fall under the Secretary General to another administrative employee within the council office.

The commission also decided that responsibility for Sahiyya's performance appraisal should be transferred to the council's vice-president.

Despite the familial relationship, the CSC concluded that Sahiyya may continue serving as Secretary General for the remainder of Shafeeu's term as council president, provided the specified administrative arrangements are implemented.

Ruling party People's National Congress (PNC) won the majority in the Kinbidhoo Council, securing the council presidency and the women's development committee seat in the local council elections. The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) won the remaining council seat.