Addu City Mayor Criticises Civil Service Reforms, Warns of Declining Efficiency in Public Service

Addu City Mayor Ali Nizar has criticised recent amendments to civil service working regulations, saying the changes risk undermining efficiency and weakening the overall public service system.

He said civil service employees are responsible for delivering most government services and stressed that strong regulations are essential to ensure timely and high-quality service delivery. However, he argued that recent revisions introduced by the Civil Service Commission were “damaging the entire system”. 

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Referring to the latest amendment introducing a 30-minute grace period and revised working arrangements, he said government office hours will now begin at 8:30am and claimed that increased leave provisions and flexibility measures were contributing to reduced productivity, alleging that around 25 per cent of the workforce was not being effectively utilised.

ރައްޔިތުންނަށް ދައުލަތުން ފޯރުކޮށްދޭ ގިނަ ހިދުމަތްތައް ފޯރުކޮއްދިނުމުގެ މަސައްކަތް ކޮއްދެއްވަނީ ސިވިލްސާވިސްގެ ހީވާގި މުވައްޒަފުން. ސިވިލްސާވިސްގެ މުވައްޒަފުންގެ މަސައްކަތް ކުރުމުގެ ގަވާއިދާއި އުސޫލްތައް ހަރުދަނާކޮށް ހިފެހެއްޓުމަކީ ރައްޔިޔުންނަށް ފެންވަރު ރަގަޅު އަވަސް…— Ali Nizar (@DhekunuNizar) July 6, 2026

He further warned that weakening what he described as the country’s only well-structured administrative system would be “regrettable in the long run”.

The Civil Service Commission recently amended its regulations to introduce a 30-minute buffer period, allowing employees to report late under exceptional circumstances without prior approval, provided they notify relevant HR sections and make up the time during the working day.