Exclusive: More than 150 officials on the list of those to be dismissed or retired in Iraq during July
A government source revealed on Thursday that lists are being prepared to dismiss and retire more than 150 government officials during the month of July, as part of a campaign to reassess administrative leaders and those with special grades in state institutions.
The source told Shafaq News Agency that “the measures will include undersecretaries, directors general, and those with special grades, and will range between dismissal from office or referral to retirement, based on the results of evaluating their functional and administrative performance.” NewsArticle Subscription
He explained that “each minister will be responsible for monitoring and evaluating the performance of agents, directors general, and special grade employees working within his ministry, and preparing official lists that include the level of competence, integrity, and achievement, as well as the recorded indicators regarding financial or administrative corruption.”
He added that “the relevant minister will be authorized to propose the dismissal or removal of any official against whom indicators related to corruption or mismanagement are proven, and if evidence of his involvement is available, his file will be referred to the competent regulatory and judicial authorities to take measures in accordance with Iraqi law.”
According to the source, “the first batch of exemptions and changes will include more than 150 officials during this month, to be followed by another batch in August.”
He noted that Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi directed the ministers, during the weekly cabinet meeting held last Tuesday, to identify and dismiss any undersecretary or director general suspected of financial or administrative corruption.
The source confirmed that “government procedures will hold the minister concerned responsible for keeping any undersecretary or director general suspected of corruption in his position, which represents a green light for ministers to take the necessary measures without delay.”
He pointed out that ministries whose ministers have not been chosen due to the incomplete cabinet will have the same powers granted to the officials in charge of managing them on an acting basis to conduct assessments and changes, including security ministries.
Earlier this month, the Cabinet authorized the Prime Minister to rotate, transfer, and replace directors-general and those of equivalent rank in all state institutions, based on a proposal from the relevant minister or the head of the entity not affiliated with a ministry, as part of what it described as the institutional reform program.
The government also announced the adoption of new standards for evaluating those holding special grades, including professional competence, integrity, administrative experience, academic achievement, leadership ability, and the level of institutional performance, instead of relying on political and partisan affiliation in selecting officials.
This comes as a political source revealed to Shafaq News Agency that the Prime Minister is preparing to meet with the leaders of the Coordination Framework to discuss lifting the political cover from officials accused of corruption, including 12 prominent political and party figures, in preparation for a new phase of the anti-corruption campaign that includes files in the Ministries of Health, Oil and Electricity.
Our sources previously revealed the preparation of a list of 40 individuals accused of financial and administrative corruption, including current and former members of parliament, undersecretaries, directors-general, company owners, and intermediaries, in preparation for taking legal action against those found guilty and recovering the funds obtained from public money.
Shafaq.com