Baghdad: The Vice President of the Iraqi Jurists Union, Azar al-Hiti, has called for the reinstatement of the Inspector General’s offices in Iraq, emphasizing the necessity of effective oversight to combat corruption. In a press statement, al-Hiti stressed the importance of oversight institutions in detecting flaws, holding officials accountable, and protecting public funds.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, al-Hiti highlighted that Iraq requires robust internal oversight mechanisms to scrutinize contracts, tenders, expenditures, and conflicts of interest. He emphasized the use of modern technologies and data analysis in identifying irregularities in government spending. However, he cautioned against merely replicating past structures, advocating instead for an independent and professional Inspector General free from political pressures.

Al-Hiti further elaborated on the need for the Inspector General’s office to work in harmony with other oversight bodies such as the Integrity Commission and the Federal Board of Supreme Audit, focusing on internal and preventative oversight without becoming a parallel investigative entity. He also underscored the importance of protecting whistleblowers to ensure a comprehensive oversight system.

He warned that reinstating the offices with the same political interference as before would not constitute genuine reform. Instead, he advocated for a system based on independence, efficiency, and digital transformation. Al-Hiti suggested that the offices should be staffed by legal professionals skilled in combating corruption, given the abolition of the previous Inspector General’s offices by Law No. (24) of 2019.

The Vice President concluded by stating that the goal is to prevent the waste of public funds and to establish a legal and institutional oversight system capable of early detection and prevention of corruption.