Baarashu MP Ibrahim Shujau,
Baarashu MP Ibrahim Shujau,
Parliament has accepted a resolution submitted by the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) to reduce the number of local councilors and referred it to the Parliament Decentralization Committee for further review.

The resolution, proposed by Baarashu MP Ibrahim Shujau, was passed with 52 votes in favor and 11 against during Monday’s sitting.

The proposal highlights concerns over the current structure, where each island council consists of five councilors. Shujau’s resolution argues that salaries and allowances remain the same regardless of population size or workload, leading to inefficiencies.

The resolution calls for considering a change in structure—making two councilors full-time while the others receive sitting allowances only. It also criticized the decentralization system, stating that in the 15 years since its introduction, little has changed on the ground apart from legal amendments, and claimed the system has become a platform for political favoritism.

The Decentralization Committee will now review and deliberate on the proposal.