The Ministry of Cities, Local Government and Public Works has confirmed that construction work has begun on 30 new council secretariats across the Maldives as part of the Government’s initiative to strengthen decentralised governance and improve working conditions for local councils.

Speaking on local media, State Minister Uz Moosa Fathuhee said the projects are progressing rapidly in line with President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s pledge to enhance local council infrastructure. He noted that out of the 55 councils contracted under the current phase, construction has commenced on 30, while materials will be delivered to nine additional islands within the coming weeks. Work on the remaining islands is expected to begin in November.

According to the State Minister, over 100 councils are currently in need of adequate office facilities. To address this, the Government has approved the construction of 105 council secretariats, including 55 funded through contractor finance and 50 developed with grant assistance from the Chinese government.

The Government has awarded the MVR 631 million contract for the 55 council secretariats to Rasheed Carpentry and Construction (RCC). Meanwhile, discussions are ongoing with the Chinese government to appoint a contractor for the remaining 50 secretariats.

The State Minister also highlighted that 19 council secretariats have been completed with the assistance of the Local Government Authority (LGA) and that efforts are being made to accelerate the remaining projects. He emphasised that providing proper facilities for local councils is essential to improving service delivery, as councils play a central role in implementing decentralisation policies.

Each new council secretariat will include office space for councillors, Women’s Development Committees, and administrative staff, creating a conducive environment for local governance and community operations.