jordan pulse -

Eng. Khaled Khushman

Jordan is currently focused on proposed amendments to the Local Administration Law aimed at advancing meaningful steps towards true decentralisation and enhancing the powers of local councils across the governorates. Aligned with the Royal Committee’s recommendations to modernise Jordan’s political system, this initiative is a strategic step towards building a capable local governance system that can achieve sustainable development and improve citizen services.

The proposed amendments, part of the government’s effort to implement the Royal Committee’s recommendations, bring hope for a serious transformation in the relationship between central administration and local units. The government’s response to the Royal directives affirms its commitment to improving local administration laws, with an emphasis on preparing for upcoming municipal and governorate council elections.

A key focus of these amendments is ensuring genuine independence for local administrative units. According to Prof. Laith Nasrawin, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, previous laws provided only partial autonomy, with local administrations tethered to the central government under a presidential authority model. Now, the relationship between local units and central administration should be based on administrative oversight, not presidential authority. This direction aligns with the Royal vision, which stresses the need to enhance the financial and administrative independence of local councils, enabling them to provide effective services to citizens.

The Royal Committee’s recommendations, particularly from its local administration subcommittee, serve as the foundation for the anticipated amendment. The committee emphasised the importance of a phased approach to decentralisation, initially focusing on capacity-building for elected and appointed structures in the governorates and improving service quality. It also highlighted the need to increase youth, women, and people with disabilities’ participation in local political life.

In a second phase, the committee proposed creating regional councils as high-level elected bodies for local governance, granting them broad powers in development and services. Other proposals include transferring budget preparation and implementation authority to local councils and establishing dedicated accounts for governorate councils in the Cities and Villages Development Bank, ensuring financial independence.

A notable recommendation involves changing the election process for mayors. Instead of separate elections for mayors, it suggests that council members elect the mayor from among themselves. However, there is a strong argument for maintaining citizens' right to elect mayors directly. Direct election offers citizens more influence in selecting their representatives, empowering mayors to lead development efforts effectively. It also strengthens the mayor's administrative independence, ultimately benefiting the public.

Additionally, the committee’s recommendations stress the importance of educational qualifications for candidates. It suggests that candidates for governorate council positions hold a university degree, while a high school diploma should be the minimum requirement for municipal council members. This measure ensures that candidates possess the necessary competence to manage council affairs and drive local development.

The proposed amendments to the Local Administration Law mark a crucial step towards effective decentralisation in Jordan. While challenges may arise in implementing these changes, they open the door to establishing a local environment capable of delivering better services and achieving sustainable development in the governorates. Thus, the Royal recommendations, emphasising local councils' financial and administrative independence, represent a commitment to strengthening local governance and ensuring fair distribution of resources and services, reflecting Jordan’s dedication to comprehensive development across the Kingdom.