Oath-Taking for New Councillors and WDC Members Set for May 17

The Local Government Authority (LGA) has announced that oath-taking ceremonies for newly elected councillors and the signing of declarations by Women’s Development Committee (WDC) members will be held simultaneously across all inhabited islands on May 17.

The ceremony will mark the commencement of the fifth term of local councils, with newly elected members formally assuming office on the same day. According to the LGA, the first official council meetings will be convened following the oath-taking, initiating the work of the new term.

The authority stated that the election of vice presidents of Women’s Development Committees will take place after members sign their declarations, while the role of WDC president will continue as a full-time position overseeing committee functions.

The LGA noted that the initiative is expected to strengthen council operations and expand women’s development efforts at the island level, while reinforcing the decentralisation framework by bringing services closer to communities.

The term for both councils and Women’s Development Committees will be five years. The authority also highlighted that oath-taking ceremonies are a legal requirement at the start of each term, with the first such ceremony held on February 26, 2011 under the Decentralisation Act.