President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on Tuesday underscored the pivotal role of the civil service in national development, stressing that their dedicated work is fundamental to the successful implementation of government policies and deserves profound appreciation.
Speaking at the Republic Day ceremony, President Dr Muizzu highlighted the critical support provided by civil servants in his efforts to fulfill responsibilities entrusted by the people.
"The civil service is the driving force behind the work ministers and political appointees do to serve the people in a republican government. Their service should be appreciated,” he affirmed.
The President acknowledged that every government relies heavily on the diligent efforts of these employees to achieve its objectives, reiterating the need for consistent recognition of their hard work. He further emphasised the importance of teamwork within the civil service, stating that collective effort towards shared goals would yield optimal results.
Addressing a key welfare aspect, President Dr Muizzu confirmed that a significant salary increase for all sectors, including the civil service, local councils, and the judiciary, is currently underway. He assured that any concerns raised by employees regarding these changes would be addressed, with relevant institutional authorities facilitating contact with the National Pay Commission for resolution.
The President explained that the primary outcome of this pay harmonisation initiative is to elevate the basic salary of all employees and standardise remuneration based on educational qualifications and service responsibilities.
He expressed confidence in the positive impact of these reforms, promising further improvements in the salaries of employees in other sectors through next year's state budget.
President Assures Swift Justice, End to Pre-Trial Delays
During his address, President Dr Muizzu expressed confidence that new government reforms, including a significant financial allocation and enhanced autonomy, will fundamentally transform the judiciary, empowering it to tackle the persistent problem of prolonged pre-trial detention.
From next year, the government has committed to allocating a fixed percentage of the state budget to the judiciary annually, earmarking USD 52.3 million for the sector in next year’s state budget.
This substantial financial independence, President Dr Muizzu explained, abolishes the previous requirement for the judiciary to obtain permits from other entities, thereby expediting services and operations.
"The judiciary has a separate account and can manage its own expenses. It can serve independently, get the resources it needs, hire staff, and do other important things on its own," he stated.
The President asserted that the ultimate outcome of these reforms is to significantly accelerate the establishment of justice, specifically addressing his promise to find swift solutions for prolonged pre-trial detention.
"They should not be in custody. They have rights. I am 100 percent sure that the judiciary will try to resolve these cases quickly with these positive changes. I assure you that the government will give all possible cooperation in the required reforms,” he added.
Further bolstering support for the justice system, the President noted the recent opening of the new Criminal Court building and pledged government priority to establishing necessary infrastructure for the Drug Court. He reiterated that the overarching purpose of these initiatives is to ensure cases are brought to court and trials conducted with greater speed and efficiency.