The President Meets the Secretary-General of the High Coordination Committee of Provincial Affairs in the Council of Ministers
On Wednesday, February 1, the
President of the Republic of Iraq, Abdullatif Jamal Rashid met with the
Secretary-General of the high coordination Committee of provincial affairs in
the Council of Ministers, Mr. Ahmed Al-Fatlawi, at the Baghdad Palace.
It is crucial to visit the Iraqi
provinces to witness the scale of the challenges facing our citizens, and how
to address them, His Excellency President Rashid highlighted. It is essential
to render better public services, and focus on the provincial needs across the
country, HE added.
It is a matter of critical
importance to active the provisions of the constitution and laws on administrative
decentralisation and devolution of power to the local provinces; this will help
tackle corruption and raise the overall standards.
The President asserted that the
provincial council should reconsider the preparation of the province draft law
amendment act to include local provinces’ inputs and requirements. It is vital
to ensure that appropriate funds are allocated for the public expenditure of
the provinces to help them improve the physical infrastructure and basic
services, he added. It is necessary to construct fully integrated cities that
offer better public services and excellent infrastructure, he said.
The country's stability both
politically and in terms of security would open investment opportunities in
multiple sectors, President Rashid went on to say that advantage should be
taken from such opportunities to advance the economy and living standards in
the country.
His Excellency deemed it necessary
to have a citizens’ complaints hotline established directly under the
Presidency management.
Mr. Al-Fatlawi said that the
Committee will play a coordinating role with the Presidency of the Republic by
examining each province's report, and he expressed the government's eagerness
to ensure the petrodollar allocations to the oil-production provinces.
A development fund for Iraq and
the fund for the reconstruction of the poorest provinces have been allocated.
Presedent