Zaidi ends contracts of 69 advisers and staff in PM’s office

BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has ended the contracts of 69 advisers, experts and other staff in his office, according to an administrative order and attached records seen by 964media.

The order, numbered 1024 and dated Thursday, was issued on the prime minister’s instructions and gave the public interest as the reason. It takes effect from the date it was issued and requires those affected to complete financial clearance, settling any outstanding accounts with the office before they leave.

The 69 held advisory, expert and other posts covering security, foreign affairs, economic policy, health, education and public administration, the attached list shows.

Paid posts carried between 1 million and 5 million dinars (about $660 to $3,300 at the official rate), while several contracts were listed as unpaid, according to the records.

Some of those let go had worked in the office under contracts going back several years, while others were appointed in 2026. Many of the contracts were due to run until 2027.

The order went out days before a change at the top of the office. Rashad Khalaf Hashim took over as Zaidi’s chief of staff from Ihsan al-Awadi at a handover ceremony Monday, the prime minister’s media office said. Hashim previously headed the Companies Registration Department at the Trade Ministry.

The government has also cut spending across the state. In August, it moved to halve what ministries spend on everything but wages, including contracts, supplies, maintenance and transport.

Zaidi’s predecessor, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, ended the contracts of several advisers and experts in his office in February 2026 as part of a restructuring to cut costs. His office said the advisers had been overseeing government programs that had reached an overall completion rate of 88%.