President Mohamed Muizzu today established a central government office in every atoll, following constitutional amendments that abolished Atoll Councils.
The purpose of establishing these offices is to facilitate the delivery of national agency services through a localised "Atoll Office." Formally designated as Integrated Service Centres under the law, these offices will operate under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology.
The legislative changes to dissolve Atoll Councils were passed by Parliament and ratified by Muizzu late last year. No atoll councillors were elected in this year’s local council elections, marking the previous term as the final tenure for Atoll Councils. Local island councils are now required to report directly to the Local Government Authority (LGA).
Since assuming office, the Muizzu administration has consistently moved to consolidate power and limit the authorities granted to councils under the decentralisation system. This includes restrictions on the powers previously afforded to councils to engage in commercial ventures.
The constitutional amendment to abolish Atoll Councils was pushed through Parliament despite criticism, with some arguing that the move is unconstitutional and contradicts the geographical and administrative realities of the Maldives.
In May, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) submitted a bill to Parliament seeking to reverse these constitutional changes and restore Atoll Councils to preserve the full decentralisation system envisioned by the Constitution. However, the bill was rejected by the government-aligned People’s National Congress (PNC) using its supermajority in the chamber.
