The head of the security committee in the Nineveh Provincial Council confirmed that holding sessions is crucial for the council's work, and the boycott has led to the disruption of many projects, including the disbursement of five billion Iraqi Dinars IQD budget (USD5M) to the Mukhtars (Representatives of neighborhoods and villages) as a monthly entitlement for their important role in the areas of the province.
In an exclusive interview with KirkukNow, Mohammed Jassim Al-Kakai stated that the absence of a head of the Investment Authority and a vacant position has halted numerous investment projects. There are three nominees for that position that need to be discussed promptly to reach final agreements.
After three months of disagreements, members of the Nineveh Provincial Council held a regular session October 8 in which several service issues were discussed, but a final agreement on appointing heads of administrative units was not reached.
Only three out of the total 29 members were absent to discuss the appointment of Mukhtars, service projects, and completing the formation of permanent committees.
KirkukNow: What is your vision and stance on the council members boycotting, and what initiatives are you taking?
Al-Kakai: The boycotting members represent a significant portion of the people. We have already taken several initiatives, including the council chairman's initiative to organize dialogue sessions with the boycotters. We have held multiple sessions, and these dialogues are ongoing to find a solution that ends the situation in the council. Each person must work according to their role as a representative of the city that elected them and provide what is needed.
KirkukNow: The internal disagreements within the Nineveh Provincial Council have impacted its work as we approaching the end of its first year. Your thoughts?
Al-Kakai: It has been over 9 months since the council was formed, and many topics and decisions need discussion, but due to the boycott, sessions cannot be held. Holding sessions is vital for the council's work. Many issues remain unresolved, such as the selection of Mukhtars. We have over billion Iraqi dinars in the governorate's office that we cannot disburse to Mukhtars since regular sessions are not held.
The absence of a chairman for the Investment Authority has halted many
projects. We have three candidates from the governorate that need discussion and agreement.
KirkukNow: The council has established its permanent committees. What are your plans within these committees?
Al-Kakai: As the head of the security committee, I fulfill my responsibilities by meeting regularly with security agencies to provide recommendations and solutions. I also monitor security departments to identify areas of negligence and provide suggestions to the council. I have submitted reports that highlight the need for cooperation among security channels.
KirkukNow: Do you have information about the budget and the timing of its submission?
Al-Kakai: There are several budgets in Nineveh Governorate, which are: the general budget for the years (2023/2024) has expired and has been fully spent.
The regional development budget was reduced to (200) billion while it was around (600) billion, of which (167) billion were received and spent on stalled projects in the province.
The stability support budget, which is (100) billion and is under the authority of the governor, and the provincial council has not yet discussed this issue.
Nineveh Plain Reconstruction Fun is (50 billion) per year, the proposals for the (2023) projects that will be implemented soon during this year have been completed.
KirkukNow: Do you have specific visions, ideas or suggestions regarding the disbursement mechanisms?
Al-Kakai: During the past years, large funds and budgets have reached Nineveh Province for construction and development, but the changes that occurred were superficial. For example, the sewage department is one of the most important departments whose value we know well during the winter. I wondered why there was no focus on this issue, and it seems that drilling operations hinder the daily lives of citizens, so they are avoided!
Strategic projects are not paid high attention in the governorate. There is a delay in work, and many department managers are not prepared and work on daily temporary matters and do not have ideas or future plans.
As for the budget, the province does not have any budget for 2023, all of which have been spent. All of our sources of income are from the capital, Baghdad. We propose projects and spend on them. According to Law No. (40) of 2015, the governor is supposed to propose projects and send them to the provincial council for approval, but this was not done.
We started from scratch, and we have not received any projects from the governorate so far during this year except for the right bank sewage project, the foundation of which was laid and we were given instructions to spend. We have the Strategic Planning Committee, the Finance Committee and other standing committees that are supposed to cooperate to present our future plans and also the infrastructure.
*This story has been produced as part of the 'Budget is Your Right' initiative, with support from the National Democratic Institute (NDI).
