Atoll Council Offices to Close, Services Guaranteed Unchanged

The Minister of Cities, Local Government and Public Works, Adam Shareef Umar, has assured the public that services to islands will not be disrupted by the government's plan to abolish atoll council offices. Speaking at a press conference held at the President’s Office, Minister Adam Shareef stated that branches of the Local Government Authority (LGA) will be established to replace the abolished atoll offices. He reiterated that the change will have no impact on the services provided to local communities. "Services will continue unchanged. These include ID card services and other basic services," the Minister said. He also sought to reassure employees, stating that their jobs will not be adversely affected. "Employees will not face any adverse consequences. All resources and assets will be transferred to the new office." Addressing a question on revenue, the Minister confirmed that collections from atoll stores located in Malé City will also continue without any changes following the administrative restructuring. The move represents a significant shift in the decentralization framework, consolidating local government services under the direct authority of the LGA.