President Muizzu Plans 100 New Island Council Buildings Within Two Years

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has announced that nearly 100 new island council office buildings will be developed and completed across the Maldives over the next two years, as part of a broader push to strengthen decentralization. Speaking during the sixth episode of 'The Pulse' podcast series, President Muizzu emphasized that decentralization remains a top policy priority for his administration. He revealed that upon taking office, several councils were operating in hazardous conditions, with some buildings facing structural collapse or deteriorating to a point where they were no longer viable for public use. To address these critical infrastructure gaps, the government has launched an aggressive construction project. Work is currently progressing rapidly on council offices across 55 islands, with the President confirming that these specific projects are slated for completion by the middle of next year. Beyond domestic funding, the President highlighted international cooperation, stating that the Chinese government has provided grant assistance to establish council offices on an additional 50 islands. Preparatory work for these projects is currently underway, and construction is expected to be finalized within the same two-year window. These new facilities are designed to be more than just administrative hubs. Each building will provide modern workspace for up to 40 employees and will feature dedicated halls for community meetings with residents. To streamline government services at the local level, the buildings will also include designated spaces for Women's Development Committees (WDC) and specialized facilities for the processing of passports and national identity cards. By upgrading these workspaces, the administration aims to improve the efficiency of local governance. President Muizzu noted that providing employees with a comfortable and functional environment is essential to ensuring that high-quality services are delivered directly to the people in their own communities.