PM Al-Zaidi Chairs the 3rd Regular Session of the Supreme Authority for Coordination between Governorates

Baghdad-INA

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi affirmed on Monday that the federal government and local governments represent one body in the state, while stressing the need to support the security services in performing their tasks that consolidate stability.

The media office of the Prime Minister said in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA),that Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi chaired today, Monday, the 3rd regular session of 2026 of the Supreme Authority for Coordination between Governorates. The session discussed the overall situation in the governorates, including service delivery and living conditions, as well as several issues and files on the agenda. The meeting was attended by several ministers, the Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, the General Coordinator for Governorates Affairs, governors, chairpersons of governorate councils, and a number of advisers.

At the outset of the session, the Prime Minister highlighted the important role played by local governments in delivering public services and implementing government policies. He noted that local governments, together with governors, represent the first point of contact with citizens, who aspire to receive quality services without regard to political disputes of any kind.

The Prime Minister further affirmed that the federal government and local governments constitute one unified body within the state, and that each governorate is responsible for adopting appropriate mechanisms to promote local development by attracting investment. He stressed the need to move away from bureaucracy that hinders the completion of projects and public services.

Prime Minister Al-Zaidi stressed the importance of supporting the security agencies in carrying out their duties to reinforce stability and preserve civil peace. He also noted the tangible progress that has been made in the one million residential land plots project, explaining that the distribution of land among the governorates would be based on population size and poverty rates, ensuring fairness and enabling the largest possible number of beneficiaries to benefit from the initiative.

The session considered the files and decisions presented before it, and the following decisions and recommendations:

1. As part of efforts to address the housing crisis, the session approved the allocation of residential land plots to beneficiaries covered by the Political Prisoners Foundation Law, in accordance with the legally established priorities and applicable regulations.

2. To strengthen local revenues, the session approved the formation of committees in the governorates, chaired by the Assistant General Coordinator for Governorates Affairs, to prepare a strategy for enhancing local revenues. Their recommendations will be submitted to the Supreme Authority for Coordination between Governorates for approval.

3. To ensure the continued operation of water supply projects, the session approved assigning the governorates and the Baghdad Mayoralty to procure chlorine through imports to meet actual demand until the expansion projects at the Al-Furat Plant are completed. The Ministry of Industry and Minerals will complete the expansion of the production capacity of its plants in accordance with a specified timetable.

4. The session also approved the third quarterly report on drinking water in the governorates, together with its accompanying recommendations.

5. As part of efforts to develop the health sector, the session approved the proposals submitted by the Ministry of Health, including the establishment of a rapid response medical team comprising all specialists to operate in the governorates during emergencies and multimillion-pilgrims events. The neighboring governorates shall provide support and logistical assistance and facilitate the work of the Operations Department teams in carrying out medical evacuation.

6. The session also approved the training of newly graduated medical students from the Colleges of Medicine at Al-Mustansiriya University, Al-Nahrain University, and Ibn Sina University in their respective governorates of residence, without requiring them to return to Baghdad Governorate.

7. Governors were granted the authority to request the lifting of agricultural reform restrictions in accordance with the approved procedures and regulations.

8. The session approved the recommendations of the designated committee regarding the governorates’ share of revenues generated by weigh stations. The Ministry of Construction, Housing, and Public Municipalities shall amend the regulations governing the operation of axle weigh stations to allocate 50 percent of the collected revenues to the respective governorates, in accordance with the amended Financial Management Law No. (6) of 2019.

9. It was decided that the Ministry of Construction, Housing, and Public Municipalities shall establish teams, with the participation of a representative of the Coordination Authority between Governorates, to review the municipal services provided, identify the challenges and obstacles facing municipal work, and submit appropriate reports and recommendations.

10. The session approved the recommendations of the designated committee concerning the Karbala Commercial and Entertainment Gate Project and the Ewan Towers Residential Complex Project.

11. The session also decided to establish a committee to determine the reasons behind the failure to sign the contract and hand over the land for the following projects: Riyadh Al-Furatain Agricultural Investments, Strategic Seed Cultivation and Poultry Farms, and the Cattle Station, Calf Rearing and Strategic Crop Cultivation Project.