Amman, Aug. 16 (Petra) – The Lower House of Parliament on Sunday began discussing the articles of the 2026 Local Administration Law, which comprises 70 articles and seeks to strengthen local governance, improve municipal services, expand community participation, and shift municipalities toward broader development and investment roles.

The session was chaired by Speaker Mazen Qadi and attended by Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan and members of the government team. Part of the session was chaired by First Deputy Speaker Khamis Atiyeh.

Deputies discussed provisions covering candidacy and membership requirements, the powers of municipalities and governorate councils, the roles of executive councils and administrative governors, as well as financial resources, investment and oversight.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Local Administration Walid Masri announced that the Cabinet had decided to regularize the employment status of 6,000 daily wage workers employed by municipalities across the Kingdom.

He explained that the decision covers actual field workers, including sanitation workers, maintenance crews, agricultural workers and employees in various other field professions. The decision followed a comprehensive study prepared by the Ministry of Public Sector Development in coordination with the Civil Service Commission and the Civil Administration.

Masri noted that the ministry had requested municipal councils and committees to provide lists of actual field workers. The data has been received and is currently being reviewed to implement the decision.

He stressed the need for modern local administration legislation that enables municipalities to perform their essential functions efficiently and transition from a traditional service-oriented approach to becoming genuine development units that contribute to improving living standards and strengthening the economies of governorates.

Addressing municipal employees' ability to pursue higher education, Masri clarified that employees may pursue university studies after obtaining approval from their direct supervisors, provided the specialization is relevant to the nature of their work. Obtaining an additional qualification, however, does not automatically change an employee's job title, as appointment to a new position remains subject to competition under applicable legislation and regulations.

The draft was prepared following intensive government consultations with parliamentary blocs, lawmakers, the speaker and members of the Senate, relevant sectors, former municipal ministers, experts and specialists. It also incorporated proposals received through the consultations, as well as findings from opinion polls and studies.

The legislation focuses on strengthening governance in local administration, linking it to development, expanding community participation, enhancing accountability and oversight, and improving the quality of services provided to citizens.

It also seeks to move municipalities beyond their traditional service-delivery role toward broader development and investment functions by emphasizing strategic and urban planning based on citizens' priorities and stimulating local economic activity in governorates.

A key provision clarifies the respective roles and responsibilities of municipal councils and executive and administrative bodies. Municipal councils will be responsible for setting policies and strategies, making decisions and overseeing implementation, while executive and administrative bodies will prepare and implement them. The division is intended to strengthen accountability and prevent overlapping jurisdictions.

The draft maintains direct and secret elections for municipal council presidents and members through two separate ballots, in line with the democratic process established under the Political Modernization Document, while introducing measures to enhance electoral integrity. It also strengthens the role of executive administrations in planning and implementation by authorizing them to prepare strategic, executive, urban, development and service plans and submit them to municipal councils for oversight and accountability.

The draft retains the mandatory appointment of a municipal executive director to head the administrative and executive apparatus. The position is intended to improve municipal efficiency, support automation and digital transformation, and enhance service delivery. Regulations will determine the director's appointment terms, duties, powers and termination of service.

The legislation also expands the mayor's powers to monitor service quality and stalled projects and coordinate with government and service agencies and local communities, without encroaching on the powers of the municipal council or executive branch.

It further restructures governorate councils to include elected representatives from bodies operating at the governorate level, including unions, women's and farmers' associations, and chambers of commerce and industry. The councils will serve as platforms for development and investment planning based on needs assessments and international service-delivery standards, while aligning with national plans and monitoring project implementation. The draft stipulates that the deputy head of a governorate council must be a woman.

To strengthen oversight and transparency, the legislation requires executive bodies to submit monthly and quarterly reports to municipal councils covering financial and administrative performance and progress on projects included in the annual budget and implementation plan approved by the council. The reports must also identify obstacles encountered during implementation.

Municipalities would additionally be required to periodically publish performance reports covering both the municipal council and executive branch on their websites and official digital platforms, enhancing transparency and public confidence.

//Petra// AJ

16/08/2026 16:15:24