Iraqi president meets Baghdad provincial council, stresses oversight role

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi President Nezar Amidi met with Baghdad Provincial Council Chairman Ammar al-Hamdani and council members in Baghdad on Tuesday, with both sides highlighting the role of provincial councils in strengthening government oversight and accountability. According to a statement from the president's office, the meeting at the Peace Palace reviewed service and administrative files, obstacles to the implementation of development plans, and ways to reinforce the councils' monitoring functions. Amidi said local government effectiveness depends on provincial councils that carry out oversight responsibilities with a sense of duty, take initiative and turn recommendations into actionable decisions. The president also called for stronger follow-up and accountability mechanisms, improved coordination with relevant institutions and clearer role definitions to raise the performance of provincial councils. The presidency said it would work to embed that institutional approach and create the conditions for its success, with the aim of accelerating service projects and responding more effectively to citizens' needs. Hamdani and the council members thanked the president for his attention to local work files and his support for the council's oversight and legislative duties, saying the backing provided additional motivation to continue their work.