AMMAN — The Cabinet, during a session chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, listened to a briefing by Minister of Local Administration Walid Masri on the status of municipalities and the Cities and Villages Development Bank.

 

The briefing highlighted ongoing challenges and explored possible solutions, particularly in relation to financial conditions, governance, and performance improvement, according to a Prime Ministry statement.

 

Masri noted that municipal salary expenditures amounted to 113 per cent of the total government transfers allocated in 2024, and 70 per cent of overall municipal revenues, including self-generated income.

 

"Total revenues for municipalities and joint services councils last year reached JD340 million, of which only 36 per cent came from self-sourced funds," he said.

 

The minister also revealed the results of 16 random quality control audits conducted in 2024 on municipal tenders, in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Works and Housing and the Royal Scientific Society.

 

"Only five tenders, worth JD2.5 million, met the required specifications, while 11 tenders, valued at JD8.1 million, were found non-compliant. Nearly half of the failed tenders were deemed completely unacceptable, and legal action has been taken in coordination with the Audit Bureau. Quality testing is ongoing."

 

Masri also highlighted that total municipal debts and liabilities have exceeded JD632 million, while uncollected dues owed to municipalities by other entities stand at JD55 million.

 

To address these challenges, the minister said that the ministry was moving forward with plans to automate services, improve governance, reduce spending and strengthen the Cities and Villages Development Bank’s financial capacity and oversight mechanisms.