Chief Government Spokesperson at the President’s Office, Mohamed Hussain Shareef, has said a comprehensive annual assessment of political appointees has been launched as part of Government efforts to strengthen performance across State institutions.

His remarks come following media reports claiming that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu had decided to remove 500 political staff.

Speaking to MMTV, Shareef said the Government has initiated a comprehensive annual assessment of political appointees across ministries and institutions, as part of efforts to strengthen governance and improve performance.

“The President’s Office has requested ministries and institutions to conduct assessments of political staff. Based on these assessments, decisions will be made on matters such as reassignments, retention, or other changes,” he said.

He emphasised that the process is not intended to remove a fixed number of employees, but to evaluate performance and make necessary adjustments in line with institutional needs.

Shareef also clarified that the exercise is not driven by a policy to reduce expenditure, but is focused on improving efficiency and ensuring the delivery of key pledges.

“The intention is to strengthen the Government’s work, achieve results, and fulfil commitments outlined in the manifesto. Some changes have already been brought to the Cabinet and senior leadership levels,” he added.

He further noted that a wider reorganisation effort is currently underway across State institutions, with reforms set to continue in the coming period to deliver results sought by the public.