Minister of Cities, Local Government and Public Works Adam Shareef Umar has stated that the relations between the government and councils have strengthened, with the government earning the trust of councils.
Speaking during a programme aired on PSM News, Minister Adam Shareef highlighted that the current administration had established a dedicated ministry for councils to enhance the decentralisation system and foster closer collaboration with councils to meet the service needs of residents. He noted that the Ministry of Cities, Local Government and Public Works had held meetings with over 280 councils over the past year, and President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu had engaged in extensive discussions with 160 councils.
Minister Adam Shareef further emphasized that the relationship between the government and councils has significantly improved, with councils now placing their trust in the government and actively supporting the administration. He underscored the importance of ensuring the financial independence of councils to effectively empower them, revealing that efforts are ongoing to achieve financial stability for councils. Additionally, the minister stated that creating a conducive work environment for councils is a priority, and infrastructure projects are being implemented to address these needs.
Regarding decentralisation, Minister Adam Shareef affirmed that residents recognise the importance of a decentralisation system. He assured that any legislative amendments to the system would be made only after thorough research. To date, 11 amendments have been made to the Decentralisation Act, marking the most significant number of changes made to any act.