INA - BAGHDAD
PM Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi chaired the first regular session of the Cabinet on Saturday.
The Prime Minister listened to Ministers’ briefings on the status of their ministries and on ways to develop broad frameworks to address their challenges, with a view to adopting them as part of the government’s approach, according to a statement from the PM Media Office, received by the Iraqi News Agency - INA.
Al-Zaidi issued a package of directives to Ministers that will serve as a roadmap for implementing the government’s policies, objectives, and priorities in a manner that serves citizens, advances the service and economic sectors, and enhances institutional performance.
The Prime Minister directed the formulation of an integrated economic policy for the country and the establishment of a Financial Stability Council, stressing that “the Ministry of Oil should not merely serve as a ministry for crude oil sales, but rather as one focused on generating added value, increasing production and exports, and developing the oil sector.”
He also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare urgent papers regarding the reactivation of Iraq’s relations with its Arab, regional, and international partners.
“The Ministry of Electricity should prepare two papers, one outlining immediate solutions to address electricity supply during the current summer season, and another setting out long-term solutions for developing the national power grid, directing the Ministry of Health to activate the Health Insurance Law,” he stressed.
Concerning the communications and transport sectors, Al-Zaidi directed intensified efforts to complete a comprehensive digital transformation and strengthen its governance, stressing that “the Ministry of Transport should contribute to supporting the national economy and increasing state revenues through a clear and defined course of action for implementing the Development Road Project and accelerating Iraq’s integration into global trade chains.”
The following are the directives issued by the Prime Minister to Ministers during the first session of the Cabinet:
● Submission of financial disclosure statements within one week from the date of issuance of this directive.
● Refraining, at the current stage, from making administrative changes or restructuring ministries.
● Defining each ministry’s priorities within 30 working days for inclusion in the government program, which will be discussed and approved by the Cabinet.
● Selecting the minister’s chief of staff exclusively from among the ministry’s own employees, while giving due attention to ministerial media offices and allowing professional media outlets to cover ministry activities.
● Engaging with Arab and foreign ambassadors in accordance with official protocols and in the presence of a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while safeguarding Iraq’s interests.
● Enabling the Parliament to carry out its oversight and legislative role and maintaining communication with parliamentary committees.
● Establishing a clear vision for managing ministries, reviewing procedures related to citizens’ transactions, and simplifying them.
● Coordinating with governors to address obstacles facing their governorates, reviewing ministry budgets, and prioritizing stalled and suspended projects.
● Evaluating employee performance scientifically and professionally, and addressing the observations of the Federal Board of Supreme Audit.
● Giving priority to combating corruption and adopting preventive measures against it, cooperating with the Federal Commission of Integrity and facilitating its work, while emphasizing the recovery of smuggled Iraqi funds abroad.
● Adopting the one-stop-shop system to facilitate investors’ work and reduce bureaucracy, while keeping official institutions away from factional tendencies, partisan alignments, and political polarization.
● Working in accordance with the Constitution, applicable laws, rules of professional conduct, and institutional performance standards, while preserving the confidentiality of important state information and documents.
● Adopting the principle of participatory and collective management in running institutions and making use of specialized expertise and consultations.
● Simplifying procedures and automating administrative functions and processes to ensure higher productivity and greater citizen satisfaction.
● Conducting field visits to monitor implementation procedures, identify and resolve problems, and ensure continuous follow-up on the implementation of Cabinet decisions and directives issued by the relevant authorities.