Petition Calls for Withdrawal of Bill Expanding Cabinet Powers Over Council Controlled Land and Lagoons
An uninhabited island in the Maldives. | Photo: Envato
A petition has been submitted to Parliament calling for the withdrawal of a bill that would give the Cabinet greater authority over land and lagoons currently under the jurisdiction of local councils.
The petition, opened by social commentator Midhuam Saud on Friday, calls for the immediate withdrawal of Amendment Bill to the Decentralisation Act, submitted by Thulhaadhoo MP Abdul Hannan Aboobakr, arguing that the proposed changes would weaken the powers of democratically elected councillors and transfer those powers to the Cabinet.
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The bill seeks to allow the Cabinet to remove land or lagoons from a local council’s jurisdiction for the implementation of government development projects. Under the existing framework, such changes require a presidential decree.
The proposed amendment would also allow land required for government projects to be taken before the relevant island or city’s physical development plan has been approved and implemented.
Plx sign and ask everyone to:
Plx sign and ask everyone to: https://t.co/82NG2y5KP3 pic.twitter.com/5Q49QOs6ml— Adam Azim, Mayor of Male’ City (@adamazim) August 9, 2026
Under the bill, once the Cabinet decides to remove an area from a council’s jurisdiction and the Local Government Authority (LGA) informs the council, the area would come under the state’s full control.
The bill further proposes restricting councils from taking actions that, without valid justification, obstruct government development projects or decisions that could result in such projects being halted.
The petition argues that the proposed changes could allow action to be taken against councillors for opposing or failing to cooperate with Cabinet decisions. It also claims the amendments would restrict citizens’ ability to express their views on public matters.
The petitioners argue that the amendments conflict with the principles of decentralisation and would reduce the authority of elected councils, which they say undermines the principle that political power originates from the people.
MP Hannan has said the bill is intended to create a legal framework for councils to cooperate more effectively with the government on development projects and streamline the process of acquiring land required for such projects.
The proposed amendments come after a dispute in July over Savaaheli in Addu City. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu amended Addu City’s administrative boundaries to remove Savaaheli and the island south of Maradhoo-Feydhoo from the city council’s jurisdiction, citing the need to facilitate tourism development.
The move came four days after the Addu City Council invited investors to submit expressions of interest to develop and operate an entertainment and recreational facility on Savaaheli.
Addu City Mayor Ali Nizar subsequently accused the government of removing Savaaheli from the council’s jurisdiction to prevent the council from pursuing its planned development of the island.
