Iraqi MP Criticizes Provincial Councils Over Failing Public Services

Sadiqun Bloc lawmaker and Basra MP Kayser el-Curani said provincial councils have lost their purpose if they cannot resolve citizens’ service problems, arguing that their continued existence is being questioned by their failure to deliver tangible results. He said local government bodies should stay close to the street, exercise oversight and follow up on the needs of their districts. El-Curani said his field visits to districts in Basra exposed the councils’ ineffectiveness, pointing in particular to conditions in Shatt al-Arab district as clear evidence of weak follow-up and neglect. He said residents continue to struggle with accumulated service problems. He argued that the success of any government or oversight body should be measured by concrete results on the ground, not by its administrative presence. He said councils that cannot carry out their basic duties may face calls for dissolution. Criticism of local administrations has intensified as many provinces continue to face delayed projects and declining service quality, despite provincial councils having resumed their work years later.