Jaafar Hassan Orders Draft System To Regulate Jordanian Ministerial Work And Prevent Conflicts Of Interest

Jordan’s Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan directed the issuance of a draft system to regulate ministerial work and gave it urgent status during a Sunday Cabinet session.

“Jordan's Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan directed the preparation of a draft system to regulate ministerial work, a move specialists view as representing a shift from ethical obligation to legal obligation in regulating ministers' conduct and in strengthening the integrity and transparency framework in public administration”

Al-Jazeera Net

The draft system is intended to prevent conflicts of interest or personal gains for ministers, or any direct or indirect benefit for their relatives, and to uphold the principle of ministerial neutrality.

Al-Jazeera Net

The system will provide a legal mechanism for procurement departments and supervisory bodies to prevent conflicts of interest among ministers, including binding rules governing ministers’ relationships with government-related entities in projects, tenders, or auctions.

It will also include controls to prevent the exploitation of information that ministers obtain by virtue of their office to gain gains for themselves or for their relatives.

The Prime Minister directed the Minister of Justice / head of the Ministerial Legal Committee to review all legislation and regulations related to professional neutrality for all public-sector employees.

Al-Jazeera Net said specialists view the move as a shift from ethical obligation to legal obligation in regulating ministers' conduct, strengthening integrity and transparency in public administration.

Constitutional law professor Dr. Laith Nasrawin told Al Jazeera Net that the government approach represents a “qualitative shift” because it moves conduct rules from an ethical and moral framework to a binding legal framework with oversight tools and penalties.

Saraha News

Nasrawin explained that the current ministerial code of conduct is based on a pledge of honor that sets general principles but lacks legal binding force and enforcement mechanisms.

He said the anticipated system should be based on a provision of the Jordanian Constitution while going beyond current constitutional texts to extend to conflicts of interest that may arise through relatives or family members or individuals connected to him.

Nasrawin added that the system’s success hinges on defining a precise and comprehensive definition of the concept of conflict of interest and linking it to the Asset Disclosure and Illicit Gains Law.

The draft system is described as including legal rules based on the Jordanian Constitution that prohibit a minister, while in office, from buying or leasing anything from state property even at public auctions, and from serving on the board of any company, or engaging in any commercial or financial activity, or receiving a salary from any company.

“Around the Clock - The Ministry of Education announced today the transfer of salaries for Jordanian supplementary education, the Syrian evening program, camps, kindergartens, and Jordanian schools in Aqaba to banks”

Madar Al-Saa'ah

Al-Jazeera Net said the system will also include controls governing ministers’ acceptance of gifts, hospitality, and social engagements, and regulating ministers’ and relatives’ participation in government tenders to block any suspicion of exploiting public office.

In the same Cabinet session, the Cabinet approved the System for Using Electronic Means in Judicial Procedures in the Sharia Courts for 2026, aiming to develop and improve services in Sharia Courts and enhance their efficiency.

The system defines judicial procedures available digitally in Sharia Courts and the Public Prosecution for Sharia and Family Mediation and Reconciliation Offices, including procedures for registering lawsuits and motions, pleadings and memoranda, notices and communications, and hearing witnesses.

The Cabinet also decided to approve the rationale for a draft Judicial Inspection System for the Regular Courts and referred it to the Legislation and Opinion Bureau to proceed with issuing it according to due process.