Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Local Government Authority (LGA) Afshan Latheef has stated the role of the institution is to provide assistance to local councils under the decentralisation policy, and not to take action against them.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the third Viavathi Raajje conference, Afshan detailed the important collaborative work being conducted by LGA and the local councils. She noted that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has prioritised the decentralisation system of governance and holding discussions to address the challenges faced in implementing the decentralisation policy. She said that President Solih is the biggest stakeholder in the decentralisation policy and that implementing it is one of his most important pledges. She noted that fundamental changes are being made in this regard but that there is still more work to be done.
Furthermore, Afshan said that amendments are being introduced to further empower local councils and that solutions will be proposed at the Viavathi Raajje conference for the issues addressed by local councils at the Fanoalla Dharubaaru conference. She said that it includes changing the formula used to allocate block grants, allowing local councils to receive vehicle fees and form companies.
Additionally, Afshan said that LGA has so far held 78 training programmes to empower local councils, during which discussions were held to solve the challenges faced by the councils in formulating the land-use plan and implementing the decentralisation policy. She highlighted that LGA will work to provide solutions instead of taking action against local councils.
At the opening ceremony of the Viavathi Raajje conference, President Solih launched seven handbooks made by LGA aimed at overcoming the challenges faced in the implementation of local governance.