News Desk
First Lady Sajida Mohamed has called on voters to participate in large numbers in the upcoming local council and Women’s Development Committee (WDC) elections.
Speaking at the opening of the PNC’s campaign centre for the Maafannu Central constituency on Wednesday, Sajida said only around 30 per cent of eligible voters typically turn out for council elections — a figure she urged the public to raise.
She noted that many people question the purpose of voting or assume that “anyone will do,” but argued that such thinking undermines development.
“We are talking about development. To achieve this, we need a capable council that will work with our government,” she said.
Sajida said councils play a direct role in shaping the future of communities and children, and therefore voters should elect representatives who will support the government’s development agenda. She urged voters to back PNC candidates for both councils and WDCs, saying the party had fielded the strongest contenders.
Local Government Authority (LGA) CEO Mohamed Nimal, speaking at the same event, said councils should ideally have a government majority to ensure smooth implementation of development projects.
He argued that opposition‑led councils often obstruct progress, citing several examples. In one case, he said, the Islamic Ministry had granted permission for prayers in a newly built mosque, but the council created administrative hurdles that required him to intervene. In another, he said some councils refused to allocate land for ATMs or for workers involved in road‑tarring projects, forcing the LGA to intervene.
“These are things the public should know,” Nimal said, adding that councils are meant to work alongside the government for islands’ development, not act as a layer of obstruction.
Nimal said the Decentralisation Act had long promised benefits that people had yet to fully experience. He added that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu was working hard to deliver those benefits, noting that the President had visited every island twice within two years to meet councils and hear public concerns.
