Decision-makers in the Kirkuk provincial council and local government with the representatives of civil society organizations and journalists discussed the findings and recommendations of the latest report of the "Budget is your Right" project.
The discussion took place in a meeting held on December 31, 2024 in the official meeting hall of the Kirkuk provincial council, where tens of participants were present, including Angel Zia, council deputy and Ali Hammadi, advisor to the governor.
Journalist Omar Hilali, the representative of the Budget Mafta project in Kirkuk, who conducted the discussion, read out a summary of the report on the monitoring and follow-up on the budget issue in the four provinces of Nineveh, Kirkuk, Diyala and Salahaddin.
"This is an important step to improve transparency and fairness in the distribution of the budget, in order to meet the needs and demands of all communities in the province, while strengthening social participation," said Zia, provincial council member.
“The project will strengthen the process of dialogue between government bodies, civil society organizations, journalists and citizens, in order to guarantee the achievement of findings and outcomes related to active and inclusive development,” she added.
In addition to an introduction to the details of the monitoring and follow-up process of the council, the report explains the problems and challenges facing the provincial council and the budget process through ten findings and finally presents a number of recommendations as solutions.
The findings include the consequences of the struggle to form local governments and the distribution of posts on the duties of the council, with the risk of unfairness in the distribution of budgets and projects, ignoring citizens' opinions.
Hammadi, an engineer, advisor to the governor for technical affairs and services, who was previously assistant governor, analyzed the project report, presented several suggestions and explanations to be handled, by the council or organizations and citizens.
The summary recommendations of the report emphasize that the provincial council should pay more attention to the current needs of citizens, distribute the budget according to the principle of justice, strengthen transparency, avoid party conflict, citizen participation and access to information about service projects in the council and the service process there are.
Nabaz Hamwandi, a journalist and civil activist, correspondent of the Iraqi Interior Ministry radio in Kirkuk, called for the budget sessions in the council to be broadcast through social networks or satellite channels, so that citizens know the procedures for preparing and voting on the budget.
Meanwhile, Raja Fazel, a civil activist, said that more attention should be paid to the education sector in Kirkuk.
The summary of the report is based on field observations of the council, surveys in all four provinces, assessment of the legal framework, eight focus groups and over 15 interviews with council members, local authority decision makers and different sections of society.
Muntaser Zaki, a journalist, believed that the focus should be on environmental pollution and its treatment, in general, issues related to climate change should be at the forefront of the council's work and allocated budget.
However, Saif Qahtan, a journalist and news presenter, said it was important to resolve the issue of electricity and private generators, especially solving the problem of gas generators and finding a final solution.
The draft summary of the report has been shared with a number of parliamentarians, provincial council presidencies, provincial councilors, academics, civil society activists and journalists for comments and reviews before the final edition.
"Budget is your right" is an important project touches everyday life of people, implemented by KirkukNow Media Outlet and Wadi, a German-Iraqi NGO, with the support and assistance of the National Democracy Institute - NDI - Iraq, dedicated to monitoring the role of provincial councils in the four provinces of the disputed territories: Kirkuk, Nineveh, Diyala and Salahaddin.
The overall aim of the project is to further encourage transparency in the budget issue, while creating dialogue and understanding among citizens, officials, civil society and the media.
*This story has been produced as part of the "Budget is your Right" project funded by the National Democracy Institute (NDI).
