Ruling clarifies: Federal-KRG disputes cannot impede salary payments
Shafaq News/ On Friday, Iraq's Federal Supreme Court ruled that disputes between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) cannot be used as grounds to delay or suspend salary payments, KRG Cabinet Secretary Amanj Raheem disclosed.
Quoting a February ruling, Raheem highlighted that disagreements over Articles 12 and 13 of the 2023 Federal Budget Law—relating to oil exports and non-oil revenues—must not obstruct monthly payments to employees, retirees, and welfare recipients in the Kurdistan Region.
'This decision reaffirms the court's stance on insulating citizens' livelihoods from political conflict,' Raheem, a member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) party, said in a statement.
Earlier, Parliamentary Finance Committee member Raed al-Maliki confirmed that the Ministry of Finance halted salary disbursements to the KRG, citing the Region's failure to transfer required oil and non-oil revenues to the federal treasury, despite the KRG receiving its entitlements.
The KRG Ministry of Finance rejected the justification, asserting that Baghdad is constitutionally obliged to continue salary payments to civil servants, retirees, and beneficiaries of the social safety net. It also criticized the federal government for neglecting reparations to survivors of the Anfal campaign and chemical attacks, calling such omissions a breach of duty.
In response, the federal Finance Ministry published data indicating that the KRG exceeded its designated budget share by failing to submit full oil and non-oil income, with joint reports from the federal and regional audit bureaus substantiating the findings, leading to the suspension of transfers.
The salary dispute comes amid deeper budgetary tensions between Baghdad and Erbil. Since oil exports from the Kurdistan Region through Turkiye's Ceyhan port were suspended in 2023, the federal government shifted to issuing monthly loans instead of direct budget payments.
Despite court intervention, the funding impasse continues, with both sides accusing each other of failing to meet their fiscal responsibilities under the national budget law.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Gaza ceasefire: Hamas delivers official response to US plan
Shafaq News/ Hamas submitted its formal response to a US-brokered ceasefire proposal to end the Gaza war, which has killed over 54,000 Palestinians and injured more than 124,000 since October 7, 2023. In its statement on Saturday, the group confirmed it had finalized internal consultations and relayed its position to mediators, outlining core demands: a permanent ceasefire, full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and unrestricted humanitarian aid access. Hamas also pledged to release ten Israeli hostages and return the remains of eighteen others in exchange for an agreed number of Palestinian prisoners. The proposal, drafted by US envoy Steve Witkoff and recently circulated, has reportedly received preliminary approval from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Hebrew media. The plan includes a 60-day truce during which both sides would continue negotiating a broader deal. If no final agreement is reached, Israel would retain the option to resume military operations or seek additional talks paired with more hostage exchanges.
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Kurdish parties denounce Iraqi salary freeze as illegal
Shafaq News/ On Saturday, 43 Kurdish political parties and groups condemned a decision by Iraq's Ministry of Finance to suspend salary disbursements during a meeting hosted at the Kurdistan Democratic Party's (KDP) political headquarters in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region. In a joint statement, the parties said they convened to discuss the political situation in both Kurdistan and Iraq, focusing on ongoing disputes between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government—particularly the recent Finance Ministry decision, which they labeled 'unconstitutional and illegal.' The rights and salaries of KRG employees should not be subject to political conflicts, they said, warning that continued pressure tactics would only deepen crises. The Kurdish parties further emphasized the need for unified action. 'We believe dialogue and negotiation are the best path to resolve this crisis, but we also affirm that all options remain on the table to safeguard the Region's higher interests.'
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Feyli Kurdish Front demands recognition, rights on 8th anniversary
Shafaq News/ On Saturday, the Feyli Kurdish Front marked its eighth anniversary with a ceremony in Baghdad, renewing its call for justice, legal recognition, and political inclusion. The event, held at the party's headquarters, brought together political leaders, civil society groups, and activists. Speakers highlighted the Feyli Kurds' long-standing grievances, including forced displacement, confiscated property, and systemic exclusion—urging enforcement of constitutional rulings in their favor. Speaking to Shafaq News, Maher Rashid al-Feyli, Secretary-General of the Front, reaffirmed the group's sole mandate to represent the community's interests, encouraging unity among Feyli Kurds and stressing that achieving formal political and legal status remains the movement's top goal. While open to cooperation with other Feyli organizations, he dismissed broader coalitions, accusing dominant parties of 'stalling efforts' to restore the community's rights. Deputy Secretary-General Hamid Rashid described the anniversary as a 'strategic moment' ahead of national elections, revealing that the Front is actively evaluating alliance offers. 'We're a political home for every Feyli Kurd. Institutional recognition remains our driving mission.' Shamil al-Feyli, Deputy Secretary-General of the al-Walaa Movement, called for unity among Feyli groups, framing the gathering as 'a reaffirmation of a shared struggle for dignity.' Meanwhile, Sabah Nour al-Din, head of the Front's Women's Committee, urged national parties to support the Feyli cause. 'Our suffering demands accountability,' she remarked to our agency, adding, 'Empowering the Feyli community must become a national responsibility.'
