An amendment has been submitted to the Decentralisation Act, where when the President classifies an Island as a City, the island council would also be changed into a City Council, giving it the full benefits and power of a City Council to be able to provide the same services as a City Council.

The amendment was moved by Thulhaadhoo MP Hisaan Hussain.

Hisaan proposed the amendment to the Act after the previous government declared Gaafu Dhaalhu Thinadhoo a city. However, the island council has submitted its concerns to the parliamentary decentralization committee, questioning their position and power.

Hisan's amendment requires islands applying for city status to complete all the procedures prescribed in this Act six months before the expiry of the term of the council representing the island if less than one year. The islands will be granted city status only after the election of the newly formed council.

If the council's term expires in over one year, the island will be declared a city and the island will become a city. When an island becomes a city, the island council that was elected to govern it before it became a city will become its city council, and the council president and vice president will become the mayor and deputy mayor of the city until the end of their term.

Similarly, upon the conversion of an island into a city, a city council shall have all the powers and responsibilities conferred on it under this Act and shall provide all the services required by law to be provided by a city.