Parliament Approves Revised AGO Bill Granting Greater Autonomy
Attorney General Ahmed Usham | Photo: The President’s Office
The Parliament has passed the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) bill, granting the office greater autonomy by removing it from the civil service framework.
The bill was approved on Thursday with 66 votes in favour out of the 72 members present, while six MPs abstained from voting.
advertisement
advertisement
advertisement
The legislation had initially been rejected and sent back to the Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, despite earlier support from members of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), who hold a supermajority in Parliament. A late-night committee meeting was convened at 9:00pm on Wednesday to revise the bill, after which it was returned to the floor with significant amendments.
Key changes to the bill include provisions empowering the president to appoint and dismiss the deputy attorney general, as well as giving the attorney general authority over the internal structure of the office. This includes determining posts such as the deputy attorney general and the secretary general.
The revised bill also introduces retirement benefits for employees who have served at the AGO for 20 years, as well as those who have worked for 10 years at the AGO and an additional 10 years in another government office.
Submitted by South Maafannu MP Abdulla Rifau on behalf of the government, the bill seeks to establish the AGO as a designated state institution, independent from the Maldivian civil service, in order to facilitate the functions assigned to the Attorney General.
Under the new framework, AGO staff will be divided into two categories: legal service and administrative service. Salaries will be determined by the Ministry of Finance in line with policies set by the National Pay Commission. The bill also provides for the option of enrolling AGO staff in a suitable health insurance scheme.
In addition to outlining the office’s structure, the legislation also details the duties and responsibilities of the Attorney General, the operational scope of the AGO, and the professional standards expected of its staff.
