The government has decided to dismiss 400 political employees as part of measures to be taken to overcome financial constraints faced by the country, Adhadhu has learned.
The government has yet to disclose the number of political appointees to date. Under the right to information law, Adhadhu has so far gathered information about political staff at 12 ministries. The number of political appointees at the remaining 10 ministries is unclear.
The Finance Minister did not reveal the information either when he was asked by MPs on the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee last week.
Adhadhu understands that each ministry has compiled and shared a list of 25 political staff with the President's Office. When appointees who are not on the list are dismissed, 400 employees will be laid off in the first wave, according to a senior government official who provided the information to Adhadhu.
The current government assumed office with a pledge to limit political appointees to no more than 700. However, based on information gathered from various sources, Adhadhu estimates that the figure is close to 2,000.
