President Mohamed Muizzu has ratified an amendment to the Decentralization Act passed by the People’s Majlis, granting the central government the authority to reclaim lands under the jurisdiction of island and city councils at its discretion.
The President’s Office stated that this amendment would streamline the procedures for designating land required for state development projects.
Muizzu ratified the bill despite two petitions submitted to Parliament: one calling for the bill’s rejection and another, backed by the government, advocating for its passage in its original form.
The bill was passed on August 26 with the support of 47 members of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC). Members of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) voted against the legislation.
The Majlis also disregarded an amendment proposed by North Galolhu MP Mohamed Ibrahim, which sought to mandate public consultation before the central government could make changes to an island's jurisdiction or resources.
During the debate on empowering the Cabinet to reclaim local lands, MDP members argued that no council would obstruct development projects on their islands. They challenged the government to name any council that had hindered such initiatives.
Under the revised law, once the Cabinet decides to remove a plot of land or a site from a council’s jurisdiction for a government project, that property is automatically transferred from the council’s ownership. Such areas will then fall under the full authority of the state.
Furthermore, councils are now required to hand over land requested by the government for development projects even before the island’s physical development plan has been finalized.
Additional amendments to the Decentralization Act introduce new codes of conduct for council members. These changes effectively compel councilors to provide full cooperation to the central government.
The amendments further stipulate that councilors must not act in a manner that obstructs government projects without a valid reason, nor should they pass resolutions aimed at halting such initiatives.
Public critics and opposition figures, who oppose these changes, have dubbed the legislation the "Land Grab Bill." They contend that these amendments will lead to the total erosion of the decentralization system.
