President Muizzu Nominates Abdul Azeez Jamaal Abu-Bakur for Information Commissioner Role

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has submitted the nomination of former Information Commissioner Abdul Azeez Jamaal Abu-Bakur to the Parliament for appointment as the new Information Commissioner. The nomination comes as the term of the current commissioner, Ahmed Ahid Rasheed, is set to expire next month. The President’s Office formally requested the Parliament's consideration and decision on the appointment during a recent sitting, where the matter was subsequently referred to the Committee on Independent Institutions for review. Abdul Azeez Jamaal Abu-Bakur is no stranger to the role, having served as the first Information Commissioner following the enactment of the Right to Information Act. He held the position from July 22, 2014, until July 22, 2019. Beyond his administrative experience, he has a distinguished background as a former Member of Parliament and has contributed extensively to the field of language. He currently serves as a State Minister at the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Heritage. The Information Commissioner is a critical independent official accountable directly to the Parliament. The role is mandated to ensure the effective implementation of the Right to Information Act and other relevant legal frameworks, safeguarding the public's right to access government information. The Office of the Information Commissioner was established on July 13, 2014. Under the Right to Information Act, the commissioner is appointed by the President upon the successful recommendation and approval of the Parliament, ensuring a system of checks and balances within the independent institution.