Sunday
5th May 2024
Dhivehi Edition
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu arrives in V. Keyodhoo. | Photo: President’s Office
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has said that he will propose amendments to the law to give each council a certain percentage of the tax revenue received by the state.
Speaking at a rally held in V. Keyodhoo today, the President said the government wants to empower the councils financially to enable them to provide services directly to the people.
“Accordingly, I intend to propose amendments to the Decentralization Act and the Tourism Act to add a certain percentage of TGST from rural guesthouses and local tourism to council revenue,” he said.
In addition, a certain percentage of the revenue from the fishing and agricultural industries will be allocated to the councils, he said.
“Through the amendments to the tax law, in the future, I will hopefully amend the law to shape it so that each council directly receives a certain percentage of the revenue deposited with MIRA,” he said.
The President said the expenditure for the councils will be deducted from the annual state budget, and the revenue received by the councils will be facilitated through decentralization.
“Then the councilors will be able to carry out the services and activities specific to the needs of the people, in consultation with the government,” he said.
"So, instead of collecting all taxes from the central government collecting agency, as mentioned above, we will amend all the relevant laws to increase the revenue of the councils by a certain percentage of the revenue from the main industries.”
However, such reforms can only be brought if the Parliament cooperates with the government, he said, adding that the upcoming parliamentary elections are a “golden” opportunity for the people to elect such a parliament.