policy
The Iraqi Council of Ministers convened its ordinary session on Saturday evening, chaired by Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi. The session thoroughly discussed general developments nationwide and deliberated on crucial files. It concluded with a series of significant decisions, including suspending official work for Sovereignty Days, exempting the Ministry of Education from certain contracting procedures, and approving nominations for federal Civil Service Council leadership. To celebrate the "Sovereignty Days" of the Republic of Iraq, the Council of Ministers approved a public holiday for all state institutions. The holiday will begin on Wednesday, September 30, and last until Saturday, October 3, with official work resuming on Sunday, October 4. Supporting the education sector, the Council voted to exempt the Ministry of Education from Article (6) of the Public Contracts Implementation Instructions (1 of 2025) for a single instance. This aims to facilitate general and school examination preparations. Furthermore, the Council approved opening nominations for the Federal Civil Service Council Chairman and Vice-Chairman (Second Term), commencing October 15, 2026, across all media and a designated website. A one-month deadline from the announcement date was set for receiving applications, based on the amended Federal Civil Service Council Law (4 of 2009). A specialized committee will be formed to receive these requests. Additionally, the Council authorized the Mayor of Baghdad, or delegate, to negotiate and sign with the World Bank for a grant to prepare an integrated services and healthy rivers project. This requires the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare and submit the necessary authorization to the General Secretariat for the Prime Minister's signature. The Council also exempted occupants of shops on property (4 Sari Kahya / Gold Market / Kirkuk Governorate) from certain procedures, concluding new lease contracts while maintaining existing public announcement and auction requirements, based on the amended State Property Sale and Lease Law (21 of 2013). As part of infrastructure development, the Council approved amending paragraph (Fifth) of Resolution (23150 of 2023), concerning the Border Crossings Authority's acquisition of land for land border crossings without compensation, per law. The resolution also includes transferring a plot of land in Nineveh Governorate from the Ministry of Interior to the Authority without compensation, to advance rehabilitation and development of border crossings there, aligning with project listing requirements. To improve the health sector, the Council voted to increase the reserve for the Ibn Sina Hospital rehabilitation project in Baghdad, simultaneously reducing its overall cost. Moreover, the Council of Ministers mandated the Ministerial Economic Council to issue a decision amending amounts in the Judicial Fees Law, based on the Diwani Order Committee's recommendation (87 of 2025). The amendment also adjusted Council Resolution (230145 Q) of 2023 by adding "not exceeding" before each fine amount and modifying fines to new recommendations.
