AMMAN — The Lower House on Sunday began deliberations on the 2026 draft Local Administration Law.

 

Administrative Committee Chairman MP Khalifeh Diat said that the committee had substantially amended the government’s draft following consultations with relevant stakeholders to strengthen elected councils, enhance oversight of executive bodies and expand public participation.

 

He said that the committee had removed provisions allowing the Cabinet to dissolve elected councils without sufficient safeguards and introduced clearer powers for councils to obtain information, monitor service delivery, follow up on delayed projects and oversee municipal performance.

 

The bill also raises municipalities’ share of capital expenditure to 16 per cent, Diat said, stressing that increased funding should be accompanied by sound financial management, measurable performance indicators and effective accountability mechanisms.

 

He described the bill as a pivotal step in the Kingdom’s political and administrative reform process and one of the key pieces of legislation stemming from the Economic Modernisation Vision.

 

Diat said the legislation clearly defines the roles of municipal councils and executive administrations, helping prevent overlapping powers and ensuring greater clarity over responsibilities.

 

He added that the bill limits the authority to dissolve elected councils by setting a maximum dissolution period of one year, preventing councils from remaining suspended indefinitely.

 

A key pillar of the legislation, Diat said, is shifting municipalities from their traditional service-oriented role towards a developmental one, with responsibilities extending beyond sanitation, roads and daily services to development, investment, stimulating local economies and contributing to strategic and urban planning.

 

He also highlighted the bill’s retention of direct and secret elections for municipal council presidents and members as a means of strengthening public participation and local democracy.

 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Local Administration Walid Masri said the legislation aims to improve the quality of services provided to citizens and transform municipalities into “genuine development units” capable of driving local development, attracting investment and strengthening governorates’ economies.

 

He stressed the need for legislation that empowers municipalities to perform their functions efficiently and contributes to improving citizens’ living standards.

 

Masri also said that municipal employees may pursue university studies with the approval of their direct supervisors, provided their chosen field is relevant to their work.

 

"Obtaining a new qualification does not automatically change an employee’s job title, he said, noting that employees must compete for new positions in accordance with applicable laws and regulations," he added.

 

During the discussions, MPs stressed that transferring responsibilities from central government to local authorities must be accompanied by adequate financial and administrative resources to ensure genuine decentralisation.

 

They also called for a clear relationship between elected councils and executive bodies, warning that overlapping powers could weaken accountability.

 

MPs also called for greater representation of women, youth and persons with disabilities in local councils, noting that while the bill expands opportunities for women and youth, it does not establish a clear quota for persons with disabilities.