MDP Chairman Fayyaz Ismail has strongly criticized the government's proposed amendments to the Decentralization Act, saying the changes are aimed at stripping power from the people and centralizing authority.
In a post on social media platform X, Fayyaz said the amendments would undermine local councils' autonomy and give the central government excessive control over rural affairs.
One key change in the bill is a clause that restricts councils from investing more than MVR 10 million in business ventures through companies they establish. Fayyaz argued that the government should not dictate how councils generate revenue or operate businesses.
He emphasized that councils need financial independence to function effectively and warned that the proposed bill could cripple the decentralization system, forcing councils to rely entirely on the central government.
Fayyaz also pointed out that many of the challenges local councils face stem from legal gaps that remain unaddressed by existing laws.
In a post on social media platform X, Fayyaz said the amendments would undermine local councils' autonomy and give the central government excessive control over rural affairs.
One key change in the bill is a clause that restricts councils from investing more than MVR 10 million in business ventures through companies they establish. Fayyaz argued that the government should not dictate how councils generate revenue or operate businesses.
He emphasized that councils need financial independence to function effectively and warned that the proposed bill could cripple the decentralization system, forcing councils to rely entirely on the central government.
Fayyaz also pointed out that many of the challenges local councils face stem from legal gaps that remain unaddressed by existing laws.
