Decentralisation Act Changes Aim to Speed Up Local Council Decision-Making, Says AG Usham
Attorney General Ahmed Usham said Act amendments will speed up local projects | Photo: The President’s Office
The government has proposed amendments to the Decentralisation Act aimed at enabling local councils to finalise development plans more quickly and begin their implementation without delay.
Attorney General Ahmed Usham stated that the changes are part of broader efforts to improve decision-making at the local level. He noted that the current structure, with a larger number of councillors, slows decision-making and increases administrative costs, highlighting the government’s intention to reduce council sizes.
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The proposed amendments also include the abolition of Atoll Councils, which would remove the intermediary layer between the Local Government Authority (LGA) and island councils, further expediting council work.
Usham reported that the government has introduced 65 bills in the past two years, of which 50 have been passed by Parliament and ratified into law by the President. He said preparations are underway to introduce ten additional bills within the next month.
He also highlighted significant legislation passed during this period, including measures to tackle gang-related crimes and address the nationwide drug problem. Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code have strengthened police powers to prevent such crimes, Usham added.
