President Muizzu Nominates Two New Members for Local Government Authority Board

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has submitted two nominations to the Maldivian Parliament for appointment to the Local Government Authority (LGA) Board. The move follows a public application process initiated by the President’s Office last month to ensure the board maintains its required expertise. The nominations are timely, as the terms for three incumbent board members are set to expire in September. After reviewing applicants from various sectors, the President selected Aishath Arifa to fill the seat reserved for a female expert in gender equality, and Mohamed Arif for the position requiring expertise in governance and public administration. While these two positions have been filled, one vacancy remains. The President’s Office had also sought applications for a representative from civil society organizations, a role that is yet to be filled. The LGA Board is a nine-member body designed to balance government oversight with community representation. It includes the Cabinet Minister accountable to Parliament, experts in gender equality and governance, a civil society delegate, and elected officials from city councils, island councils, and Women’s Development Committees. The board is rounded out by a Ministry of Finance staff member designated by the finance minister and the Authority’s CEO. The nominations now move to the Majlis, the Maldivian Parliament, for review and confirmation. This legislative process is intended to ensure that the board possesses the mandated balance of professional expertise and diverse representation before the new term begins.