King tells governors to be prepared for greater role under decentralisation plan

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday underscored the responsibilities of district governors in terms of local administration, community development and the implementation of the decentralisation project in the various governorates.  

At a meeting with Interior Ministry governors held at the Royal Court, King Abdullah valued their role as administrative leaders who are tasked to manage several aspects of public life, particularly development. 

The King noted that these officials would play a larger role in the decentralisation project, a national project which seeks to engage citizens in decision making, in accordance with the needs and the priorities of each governorate, and in a manner that speeds up the reform process and ease red tape, according to a Royal Court statement.

As the decentralisation project is drawing nearer, King Abdullah underlined the importance of upgrading governors’ capabilities and improving the skills of workers in this domain, in light of their expanded role, which, he said, requires high efficiency, agility and precision in delivering services and responding to developmental requirements. 

The King emphasised the need to deliver government services in all governorates in transparency and fairness, in partnership with the local community. 

He also highlighted governors’ responsibility to coordinate among the various government bodies within each governorate. 

At the meeting, attended by Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh, King’s Office Director Jafar Hassan and Interior Minister Hussein Majali, economic issues were also at the forefront of discussions. 

In this regard, the King said improving the living conditions of Jordanian citizens is “at the top of our priorities”. 

The participants discussed issues pertaining to the Governorates Development Fund and highlighted the need for effective partnership among stakeholders to carry out pilot projects that can create jobs for young Jordanians, and help eliminate poverty and unemployment. 

Furthermore, they addressed ways to deal with economic challenges, mainly the public debt and the high cost of energy, in addition to mounting economic burdens as a result of hosting large numbers of Syrian refugees, and growing pressures on the country’s infrastructure and services, especially in the northern governorates. 

Majali expressed his appreciation of the King’s meeting, pointing out that the Interior Ministry is currently working on two important files, namely the issue of internal security and the decentralisation project. He noted that the ministry has come a long way in terms of the latter.