Minister says recruitment hurdles worsening in small island councils

Local Government Minister Adam Shareef Umar said Monday that councils in small, economically active islands are increasingly struggling to recruit administrative staff, a challenge highlighted by the recent resignations in V. Rakeedhoo Council.

Residents of Rakeedhoo, one of the country’s smallest islands by population, closed the council office on Monday after two council members and the council’s administrative staff resigned.

Commenting on the issue in a post on X, Adam Shareef said there is a growing shortage of administrative staff willing to work in council offices in small communities where tourism and other economic opportunities are expanding.

He said the ministry is now working with relevant institutions to resolve the matter.

ފަތުރުވެރިކަމާއި އެނޫންވެސް އިޤުތިޞާދީ ފުރުޞަތުތައް ފަހިވެފައިވާ ކުދިކުދި އާބާދީތަކުގެ ކައުންސިލް އިދާރާތަކުގައި މަސައްކަތް ކުރާނެ އިދާރީ މުވައްޒަފުން ނުލިބުމުގެ މައްސަލަ އަންނަނީ އިތުރުވަމުން.
މި މައްސަލަ ހައްލު ކުރުމަށް ގުޅުންހުރި މުއައްސަސާތަކާއެކު މިދަނީ މަސައްކަތް ކުރަމުން.…

— Adam Shareef Umar (@Adamshareefz) March 2, 2026

Rakeedhoo Council President Abdullah Rasheed told Sun earlier that the council’s administrative staff had resigned a week ago. Recruitment for the vacant positions is underway, he said, adding that both the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Local Government Authority (LGA) have been informed of the staffing needs.

However, he noted that since the council term expired last year, recruitment has been stalled due to amendments to the Decentralization Act. Under the revised law, councils cannot hire administrative staff without approval from the LGA and the Ministry of Finance, approvals that have not yet been granted by either the CSC or the LGA.