Parliament committee approves a monthly allowance of MVR 35K to ex VPs

An interim committee of the Parliament has passed the decision to award all former Vice Presidents of Maldives with a monthly allowance of MVR 35,000, as long as they have not been sentenced for a criminal offense.

The Bill on Allowance and Incentives to Former Maldivian Vice Presidents was submitted to the Parliament by Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem (Redwave Saleem).

The five-member interim committee set up to evaluate the Bill have now made several amendments to the Bill.

The amendments include additional provisions stating circumstances whereby a former VP may not receive the monthly allowance.

They are:

• A former Vice President may not be eligible for his/her allowance if he/she is serving at another State position
• A former Vice President may not be eligible for his/her allowance if he/she has been sentenced by a court of law for a criminal offense

The committee’s final report on the Bill was read and debated over at the Parliament sitting this Wednesday morning.

Lawmakers are scheduled to vote on the Bill at 1:30 pm this Wednesday.

FORMER VICE PRESIDENTS:

Former VP Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor, the second VP during former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s administration, is currently serving a prison sentence and will not be eligible for the allowance.

Those who will be eligible for the allowance includes Dr. Ahmed Jameel Mohamed – who served as the first VP during former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, and Abdulla Jihad – who served as the third and final VP during former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s administration.

Other former VPs eligible for the allowance are Mohamed Waheeduddin (Dean) – who served as VP during former President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Ahmed’s administration – and Dr. Mohamed Waheed Ahmed himself – as he had served as VP during former President Mohamed Nasheed’s administration.

There is already legislature in place to award allowance and incentives to former Presidents. Former Maldivian Presidents receive MVR 75,000 as their monthly allowance, MVR 10,000 as their monthly living allowance, and MVR 87,000 per month for office expenses.