President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to genuine community empowerment through reforms to the decentralisation system. The remarks came during his two-day visit to the islands of Baa Atoll, where he addressed recent amendments passed by Parliament aimed at improving the effectiveness and fairness of local governance.

The President stressed that decentralisation should work in the best interests of the people, with safeguards to prevent the misuse of public funds. He noted that some local councils have been spending significant sums in ways that fail to deliver tangible benefits to communities.

To address this, the revised legislation limits the ability of council-owned companies to engage in small-scale commercial activities that could compete with ordinary citizens. Instead, these companies will be directed towards larger-scale ventures that can generate broader economic benefits without undermining local businesses.

The changes are designed to promote transparency, accountability, and sustainable development, ensuring that the decentralisation system truly serves the people and strengthens their role in shaping their own futures.