Parliamentary Committee on Decentralisation has approved to grant the authority of removing mayors and presidents of island and atoll councils to the parliament.
The changes were included in the amendments proposed by the government to the Decentralisation Act. The amendment gives Local Government Authority (LGA) the authority to submit a no confidence motion to the parliament to remove mayors and presidents of island and atoll councils.
The proposed amendments include granting more powers and authority to the local councils such as allocating 33% of all councils to women. The amendments also propose mayors and presidents of councils to be elected through a public vote.
Amendments to empower councils include the provision of 5% of total annual budgets, warranting councils the income it generates from sources under its jurisdictions in addition to permitting the councils the rental incomes from lands.