Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani has taken decisive steps to ensure the swift resolution of cases presented to the Commission of Integrity, emphasizing the importance of addressing several serious issues within Iraq’s pension system. His directive aims to address a range of irregularities, including the failure to regulate pension payments, fraudulent activities, and the misallocation of public funds.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Media Office, Al-Sudani’s orders focus specifically on cases involving the National Pension Authority. These include the improper continuation of pension payments to deceased individuals, the failure to collect advances owed by pensioners, and instances of forgery in the documentation related to compensation claims for victims of terrorism. The Prime Minister has urged the Commission of Integrity to expedite investigations into these matters.
Al-Sudani stressed the critical importance of safeguarding public funds and underscored that any cases of forgery or violations that result in the wrongful allocation of public resources cannot be tolerated. Such actions, he explained, not only deprive legitimate beneficiaries of their entitlements but also delay access to essential benefits.
Additionally, the Prime Minister reiterated his previous instructions to relevant authorities to implement a comprehensive set of reforms to improve the organizational and legal processes surrounding pension distribution. These reforms include the creation of a biometric database to better track pensioners, a thorough review of contracts related to electronic payment services, and the establishment of a more precise mechanism for verifying the status of pensioners. Al-Sudani has also called for increased efforts to track the repayment of loans and pensions disbursed to ineligible individuals.
In closing, the Prime Minister emphasized that all legal actions must be fully enforced against those found guilty of misappropriating public funds, ensuring accountability and transparency in the management of the country’s pension system.
