President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has announced that the government is working to expand its housing loan framework to help people complete homes and buildings already under construction.
Speaking on the “Rayyithunge Adu” (Voice of the People) programme, President Muizzu said new mechanisms are being developed to broaden access to housing finance as part of efforts to address the country’s housing challenges.
The issue was raised by a citizen who asked the government to provide financing for people struggling to complete ongoing construction projects, in addition to the policy of reducing the equity requirement for housing construction loans to 5 percent.
Responding to the request, President Muizzu said the government intends to introduce additional opportunities under the housing loan scheme, including provisions specifically aimed at completing unfinished buildings.
He said the Ministry of Housing, Land and Urban Development is currently preparing the relevant regulations, which are expected to be completed by November.
“The Housing Ministry is currently engaged in that work. We are opening up further new opportunities,” President Muizzu said.
Housing accessibility was also raised during the programme by a woman caring for a 13-year-old child with disabilities. She said she had received high scores in previous flat applications but had not been allocated a home. She also said her name had initially appeared on the Hiyaa flats list before later being removed.
After hearing her concerns and describing her difficult housing situation, President Muizzu said the government would work towards finding a solution.
Several participants also raised employment, pension and salary concerns.
A senior citizen who had served the government for more than 40 years expressed concern about the discontinuation of contract employees. He said he had reached retirement age last year but sought a two-year extension because two of his children were studying medicine abroad.
President Muizzu said the contributions of long-serving employees should be recognised and described the circumstances surrounding the man’s dismissal as regrettable. He said efforts would be made to address the issue.
Another retired government employee told the President that despite completing more than 46 years of state service at the Audit Office, he had not received his monthly basic pension. Although he had received his lump-sum retirement payment, his monthly pension remained outstanding. President Muizzu said the matter would be investigated.
Concerns were also raised over the treatment of IT professionals under the government’s new pay framework. A judicial sector employee said computer technicians remained comparatively underpaid, including cases where employees at Public Service Rank 5 received lower salaries than administrative employees at Rank 4.
President Muizzu assured the participant that the government would work to address the salary issue.
