INA–Baghdad
Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi directed the formation of the Supreme Sovereign Council for Integrity, Oversight, and Public Funds Recovery on Saturday.
The Prime Minister's Media Office stated in a press release received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that "Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi chaired a special meeting regarding procedures for auditing government contracts. The meeting was attended by the head of the Federal Board of Supreme Audit, the head of the Federal Integrity Commission, the public prosecutor, and the judge of the Karkh Investigation Court specializing in integrity cases."
According to the statement, the prime minister directed the formation of the Supreme Sovereign Council for Integrity, Oversight, and Public Funds Recovery, to be chaired by himself and include the head of the Federal Board of Supreme Audit and the head of the Federal Integrity Commission.
The Council will be responsible for monitoring ministries, non-ministerial entities, and governorates on substantive and impactful issues to prevent the waste of public funds and recover state assets. The Council's findings will be submitted to the judiciary.
"The Prime Minister directed that the economic feasibility of projects be verified and that specialized subcommittees be formed to audit government contracts to ensure their compliance with applicable laws and regulations," the statement added.
"The meeting also included discussions on forming a central committee comprised of representatives from the Federal Board of Supreme Audit, the Integrity Commission, and the Ministry of Finance. This committee would be tasked with developing a mechanism for auditing and investigating government contracts before their conclusion to ensure their alignment with approved allocations," the statement continued.
