New Political Appointee Position at Planning Ministry

A new political appointee position has been created in the Ministry of National Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure.

The Ministry created the position of Senior Executive Director and has been allocated a total monthly salary of MVR 25,000.

There are currently 8 other Senior Executive Director positions at the Ministry of National Planning. It is estimated that the government currently spends MVR 225,000 a month on the salaries of these political appointee positions.

The Budget passed for 2021 showed a record number of political appointee positions in the government, with a total 967 positions slated for the end of the year, and a pool of MVR 382, 944, 545 to fund their salaries.

Political appointee positions bypass the hiring and payment regulations enforced by the Civil Service Commission and are filled by direct presidential appointment.

On the campaign trail in 2018, the now-ruling MDP had promised to reduce the number of political appointments in government. Since President Solih’s inauguration, the number of political appointees; and the total share of state funds allocated for their salaries; is only increasing with no decline in sight.