Benguela: The President of the Republic, Joo Louren§o, arrived this afternoon, Friday, to the province of Benguela, where on Saturday he will chair the first extraordinary meeting of the local governance council. At his arrival at Paulo Teixeira Jorge, from Catumbela, the head of state, who is accompanied by the First Lady of the Republic, Ana Dias Louren§o, received a welcome from Benguela Province Governor Manuel Nunes Jºnior, members of the central government, and local entities.
According to Angola Press News Agency, prior to Saturday's meeting, the President of the Republic will also participate in the opening ceremony of the V Edition of the Fair of Municipalities and Cities of Angola. The Local Government Council is a collegial body that acts as an assistant to the President of the Republic in the formulation and monitoring of public administration's governance policies at the local level in Angola.
The council is intended to evaluate, deliberate, and guide actions in essential domains, such as the implementation and adequacy of the new political-administrative division, approval of organic statutes of provincial and municipal administration, and planning and execution of infrastructures including highways and new cities. It also handles policies of food and nutritional security.
Additionally, this organ is responsible for formalizing informal economy operators, public health indicators, education, and agriculture, among others. The council generally gathers twice a year under the direction of the President of the Republic and includes the participation of the vice-president, ministers of state, holders of various ministries, provincial governors, and other relevant entities.
Its main attributions also include contributing to the formulation and execution of local governance policies, evaluating the political-administrative organization and the strategic projects developed locally, as well as examining budgets and annual plans of provincial governments. The council can propose mechanisms of articulation between the central and local administration, monitor policies to combat regional inequalities, and promote administrative and financial deconcentration. It also monitors the progress of local authorities and state reforms that impact local governance.
