President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has decided to amend the law to eliminate some of the benefits provided by the state to former presidents and members. He revealed this decision in a post shared on social media. The state is required by law to provide various benefits to those who have ruled the Maldives and to members of the People’s Majlis. This has led to complaints from the general public about the burden on the state.
In a post shared on social media regarding this matter, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said that he has decided to eliminate some of the benefits provided by law to those who have served as President of the Maldives the Maldives and as members of the People’s Majlis. He also said that the government has decided to submit amendments to the laws to the People’s Majlis to make these changes. The President said that in addition to some of the benefits received by former presidents and members, the government has also decided to standardize the pension benefits received by those who have retired from state jobs. He said that work is underway to make the necessary amendments to laws and regulations to implement these changes.
The former presidents currently include Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, President Abdulla Yameen, Mohamed Nasheed, and Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik. The President said that regulations need to be amended so that if a person receiving pension benefits after retiring from a state job is appointed to another state job, those benefits should be suspended for the duration of their employment.
The issue of receiving pensions even after retiring from state jobs and then taking up other state positions is also a matter of concern for the state treasury and the public. Members of the People’s Majlis have also stated that it is a matter of concern that the amount spent on pensions by the state has increased due to conflicts between the Civil Service Act and the Pension Act, resulting in double pensions. Therefore, the Public Finance Committee of the Majlis has also started work to resolve this issue.
