The Civil Service Commission (CSC) has stated that First Lady Sajida Mohamed did not sign a contract under any special regulations, but in adherence to the established regulations.
First Lady Sajida is employed as a senior scientific officer at the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) and was requested by the Ministry of Health for her technical assistance. As such, CSC granted her a consultancy contract, prompting an investigation by the Parliamentary Committee on Independent Institutions.
Speaking to the committee, President of CSC Mohamed Nasih explained that First Lady Sajida initially sought employment concessions due to difficulty in working full-time. He, however, said that the regulations did not permit such concessions and the only available option was to offer services on a contract basis without a salary. He also emphasised that current Maldivian laws do not prohibit the First Lady from civil service employment. He added that she opted for a contractual arrangement due to challenges in continuing with her job.
Additionally, Nasih disclosed that the contract with First Lady Sajida was formalised on December 7, stipulating 40 hours of service per month at a rate of USD4.8 per hour. He said that the contract was awarded within the established regulations, refuting any special treatment based on her status. He highlighted that numerous individuals have served various ministries under the same regulations in the past and continue to do so.
Furthermore, Nasih cited examples, mentioning that five employees from the Ministry of Finance, two from the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, and three from the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure have worked under similar regulations since 2018.