Administrative paralysis in Kirkuk halts projects, jobs awaiting formation of local government
For the past seven months, the position of governor has been a contentious issue, with parties unable to reach an agreement.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - Kirkuk is currently experiencing an administrative vacuum, operating without a governor or an empowered elected council.
As a result, 400 billion dinars allocated in the 2024 budget and 7,000 employment opportunities remain in limbo, pending the formation of the local administration and provincial council.
Ali Hammadi Abd, Kirkuk’s governor’s assistant for technical affairs, told Kurdistan24’s correspondent Hemin Delo, "The 2024 Iraqi budget plan for Kirkuk projects is about 400 billion dinars, covering all sectors. Implementation of any plan requires committees of the provincial council, which are currently non-existent. Additionally, 7,000 employment positions cannot be filled without these committees."
Despite members of the council from various factions visiting daily and showing a desire to reach an agreement, decision-making remains out of their hands.
Hassan Majid, head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) faction in the Kirkuk provincial council, emphasized the urgency: “The people of the city are waiting for the formation of the local government. We hope that the political parties will agree on the distribution of posts within the specified period. As council members, we aim to work as a team and effectively oversee the province's work and projects.”
For the past seven months, the position of governor has been a contentious issue, with parties unable to reach an agreement.
The ongoing deadlock indicates that talks between the factions have been unproductive, and there are concerns that the resolution may come from Baghdad, potentially sidelining the wishes of Kirkuk's residents.