President Restructures Government Framework, Renames Ministries, and Revises Administrative System

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has restructured the government’s administrative framework, revising the numbers used in official correspondence and assigning new Dhivehi names to newly formed ministries.

The changes were formalised through separate directives issued by the President’s Office yesterday. They include the dissolution of several ministries, the establishment of a new ministry, the renaming of existing ministries, and the reallocation of oversight for a number of government agencies.

As part of the restructuring, the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy has been established.

Several ministries have been dissolved, including the Ministry of Social and Family Development, the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development, the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts, the Ministry of Cities, Local Government and Public Works, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare.

A number of ministries have also been renamed as follows, with newly assigned correspondence numbers:

10 – Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology → Ministry of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology (Dhivehi: Dhifaa’ee Amaanayathaa Iqthisaadhee Tharaqqeeaai Thahuzeebee Khidhumaiytherikan Behey Vuzaaraa)

13 – Ministry of Finance and Planning → Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises (Dhivehi: Maaleyyathaa Amalee Inthihaabuthah Behey Vuzaaraa)

22 – Ministry of Education → Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development (Dhivehi: Thauleemaai Mathee Thauleemaai Hunaruthah Tharaqqee Kurumaa Behey Vuzaaraa)

23 – Ministry of Health → Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare (Dhivehi: Sihhathaai Aailaa-aai Ijjuthimaaee Ehee-aa Behey Vuzaaraa)

101 – Ministry of Economic Development and Trade → Ministry of Economic Development, Transport and Trade (Dhivehi: Iqthisaadhee Tharaqqeeaai Dhathurufathuraai Viyaafaari-aa Behey Vuzaaraa)

142 – Ministry of Islamic Affairs → Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Endowments (Dhivehi: Islaamee Kanthahthakaai Awqaafaa Behey Vuzaaraa)

88 – Ministry of Tourism and Environment → Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (Dhivehi: Fathuruverikamaai Madhanee Udhuhunthakaa Behey Vuzaaraa)

141 – Ministry of Sports, Fitness and Recreation → Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Fitness (Dhivehi: Zuvaanun Baaruverikurumaai Kulhivaraai Hashiheyokamaa Behey Vuzaaraa)

473 – Ministry of Dhivehi Language, Culture and Heritage → Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage (Dhivehi: Fannaai Saqaafathaai Tharika-aa Behey Vuzaaraa)

491 – Ministry of Construction, Housing and Infrastructure → Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development (Dhivehi: Binaaraai Gedhoruverikamaai Umraanee Tharaqqee-aa Behey Vuzaaraa)

30 – Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources → Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Ocean Resources (Dhivehi: Masverikamaai Dhanduverikamaai Kan’duge Vaseelaiythakaa Behey Vuzaaraa)

1139 – Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy (Dhivehi: Moosumeee Badhaluthakaai Thimavehtaai Hakatha-aa Behey Vuzaaraa)

The restructuring also includes changes to the oversight of several government agencies. The National Careers Service has been moved to the Ministry of Homeland Security, Labour and Technology, while the Maldives Qualifications Authority, Maldives National Skills Development Authority and Maldives Polytechnic have been transferred to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development.

Social service institutions, including the National Social Protection Agency, family and children’s service centres, shelters, and senior citizens’ centres, have been reassigned to the Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare.

The Maldives Transportation Safety Board has been moved to the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation. Cultural institutions, including the National Library, National Archives and the National Art Gallery, have been transferred to the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage.

Environmental bodies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Utility Regulatory Authority, Maldives Meteorological Service and the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve Office, have been placed under the newly established Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy (Moosumeee Badhaluthakaai Thimavehtaai Hakatha-aa Behey Vuzaaraa).

Additionally, on Tuesday, 10 cabinet ministers resigned from their positions. Part of President Muizzu’s restructuring included reducing cabinet positions to 15, inclusive of the attorney general. Two more ministers were reappointed to their ministries yesterday, after President Muizzu has expanded the mandates of the ministries.