MUSCAT: The System of the Governorates, promulgated by Royal Decree 36/2022, specified the work of the governorates in coordination with the authorities concerned with implementing the state’s general policy with a view to guaranteeing the rule of law and protecting the interests of the state.
The System of the Governorates aims at investing in the resources of the governorates’ and preserving, realising sustainable development, tapping the potentials of the governorates, creating job opportunities for citizens, establish and manage municipal facilities, protecting public properties, complementing the public facilities and services in the governorates, taking part in urban planning, protecting the environment, and executing developmental projects in each governorates.
As per the details of the System of the Governorates, regulating the municipal activities is done in accordance to unified regulations issued by the minister of interior. The minister meets with the governors at least twice a year or as the need arises, to discuss the common affairs of the governorates.
The governor is responsible for preparing projects related to the development plans for the governorates in coordination with the competent authorities and following up on their implementation. In addition, the governor is responsible for preparing the governorates’ draft annual budget and its final account and submitting them to the Ministry of Finance, issuing decisions imposing municipal fees within the framework of the state’s general policy after the approval of the Ministry of Finance. The minister also coordinates with the competent authorities with regard to determining the uses of land in the governorates without prejudice to the purview of the municipal councils.
The governor is the representative of the government in the governorate. The governor receives complaints related to the governorate and takes appropriate decisions in this regard, coordinating with the heads of government units regarding the performance of their branches and offices in the governorate. The governor directly oversees the walis, follow up on their daily work, evaluate their performance, and submit periodic reports on them to the minister and also submit an annual report on the outcome of the governorate’s work as well as issues that need to be presented to the Council of Ministers, to the Minister of Interior, who, in turn refer them to the Council of Ministers.
The System of the Governorates states that each governorate has within its organisational structure, a municipality with the level of a directorate-general except for the governorates of Muscat and Dhofar where the municipality has a higher status and they directly fall under the governor.
The municipality within the governorate is concerned with practicing all municipal activities stipulated by the System. The municipality has a branch in each wilayat that undertakes the exercise of activities within the wilayat under the direct supervision of the municipality.
The System of the Governorates stipulates that each governorate should have an independent budget. The financial resources of the governorate are provided from allocations to the state’s general budget in return for the services it provides to others, gifts, subsidies, and grants accepted by the governor after the approval of the Council of Ministers. The other sources of finance include investment returns and a percentage of municipal fees which are determined by a decision of the Council of Ministers.
