Latest news with #TaifSami
Shafaq News
13 hours ago
- Business
- Shafaq News
Kurdistan's salary crisis since May 2025: What We Know So Far?
Shafaq News – Baghdad/Erbil Since May 2025, the Kurdistan Region has been grappling with a deepening salary crisis following a decision by Iraq's Ministry of Finance to suspend salary transfers to the Region. The ministry cited that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) had exceeded its allocated federal budget share. According to official data, the KRG's actual expenditures reached 13.547 trillion Iraqi dinars (approximately $10.23 billion), surpassing the 12.67% share stipulated in the 2023–2025 federal budget law. The move drew strong criticism from the KRG, which accused the Iraqi government of pursuing 'deliberate starvation and systematic extermination' policies against the Kurdish population. The crisis intensified tensions between the two sides over financial entitlements and constitutional responsibilities. A step toward resolution came on July 16, when Baghdad and the KRG reached a financial agreement focused on public sector salaries. The deal linked salary disbursement to the Kurdistan Region's compliance with federal oil export mandates. KRG welcomed the new deal. As of July 17, the Iraqi government required the KRG to deliver all oil production to the State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO). Under the agreement, the KRG must export a minimum of 230,000 barrels per day, with additional production also included. In exchange, the Ministry of Finance would provide an advance of $16 per barrel, either in cash or in kind, in accordance with the revised budget law. If exports are halted for any reason, the same quantity must be delivered directly to the federal Ministry of Oil. Additionally, 50,000 barrels per day will be allocated for local use within the Kurdistan Region. The KRG is responsible for production and transport costs, while revenues from refined product sales must be transferred to the federal treasury after deductions. To help meet local fuel needs, the Ministry of Oil is also expected to supply the Region with refined fuel equivalent to 15,000 barrels of crude per day, based on a joint assessment within two weeks. The agreement also required the KRG to transfer 120 billion Iraqi dinars in non-oil revenues for the month of May. The Ministry of Finance stated that salary disbursement would not begin until confirmation of full oil quota delivery via SOMO—through the port of Ceyhan in Turkiye—and receipt of the non-oil funds. On July 19, Finance Minister Taif Sami addressed the Iraqi Parliament's Finance Committee, reaffirming that disbursement of May salaries remains conditional upon full compliance with the terms of the agreement. In line with these conditions, the Kurdistan Region's Ministry of Finance and Economy announced on July 22 that it had deposited the May non-oil revenues—amounting to 120 billion dinars—into the federal government's account at the Erbil branch of the Central Bank of Iraq.
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Business
- Shafaq News
Finance Minister: Iraq's 2025 Budget Law under committee review
Shafaq News – Baghdad Iraqi Finance Minister Taif Sami informed lawmakers on Sunday that a special committee, formed by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, is currently drafting the tables of the 2025 Federal Budget Law. Saad al-Tobi from the Parliamentary Finance Committee explained to Shafaq News that the draft tables will be sent to the Cabinet for approval before heading to Parliament. 'Information on revenues and expenditures remains limited,' he added. 'The documents will be ready for submission next month.' Earlier today, Parliament hosted Sami to discuss the delay in submitting the budget tables to the legislature. The appearance followed a formal request by Finance Committee Chair Atwan al-Atwani and, according to a parliamentary source, covered the implementation of the government program and the execution of the 2023–2025 Budget Law.
Rudaw Net
29-06-2025
- Business
- Rudaw Net
Two Iraqi delegations to arrive in Erbil to resolve financial disputes with KRG
Also in Iraq KRG delegation arrives in Baghdad amid efforts to resolve financial disputes Iraq's Victory Coalition to skip election Iraq's marshlands are drying up Sistani rep warns Iraqis to remain vigilant despite Iran-Israel truce A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Two separate delegations from Baghdad are set to arrive in Erbil soon to discuss financial disputes with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), a well-placed source told Rudaw on Thursday. A technical delegation was en route to Erbil at the time of writing while a high-profile and decision-making delegation is set to arrive in the Kurdish capital on Monday, the source said on the condition of anonymity. Iraqi Finance Minister Taif Sami informed the KRG late May that it could no longer pay the regional government's share from the federal budget, claiming that the funds allocated to the KRG had been exhausted. Erbil has denied the claim, accusing Baghdad of failing to adhere to a February ruling by the federal supreme court which stipulates that the KRG's share should not be impacted by political disputes. The technical delegation will discuss the method of calculating the federal government's share of non-oil revenues that the Kurdistan Region delivers monthly to Baghdad. Federal oil ministry representatives will also discuss with the Kurdish oil officials the obstacles to Kurdistan Region oil exports and company conditions for those exports. Exports through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline have been suspended since March 2023, following a ruling by a Paris-based arbitration court that found Turkey had violated a 1973 pipeline agreement by allowing independent exports from Erbil. The other delegation is scheduled to visit the Kurdistan Region on Monday. This is a high-level delegation including representatives from the Iraqi oil and finance ministries and other senior officials to discuss the issues and how to resolve them based on the technical committee's report. Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani hoped on Wednesday that the high-level delegation's visit would resolve the disputes. In February, the Iraqi parliament approved amendments to the federal budget law, including a $16-per-barrel fee for production and transport costs for international oil companies (IOCs) operating in the Kurdistan Region. The amendments also require both sides to establish an international technical consultancy within 60 days to assess oil production and transportation costs. If no agreement is reached, the federal council of ministers should appoint the consultancy. Hastyar Qadir contributed to this article.
Rudaw Net
04-06-2025
- Business
- Rudaw Net
KDP accuses ‘some' in Baghdad of eroding federalism, using salaries for leverage
Also in Kurdistan New Crimean-Congo fever case confirmed in Duhok Cabinet formation needed despite 'illegitimate' parliament: Komal leader Canada opens business council to enhance cooperation with Erbil, Baghdad: Ambassador Energy deals with US to boost industrial, economic growth: KRG official A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Region's most influential political party on Monday accused 'certain authorities in Baghdad' of 'disregarding the constitution' and 'undermining federalism.' The Kurdistan Democratic Party's (KDP) remarks come amid growing tensions with the federal government over its suspension of budget transfers to Erbil. The KDP central committee said in a statement that 'some of the rulers' in post-2003 Iraq 'possess a mentality far removed from federalism and show tendencies toward restoring centralized state control.' The statement also accused these sides of using civil servant salaries and budget allocations to the Kurdistan Region 'as leverage.' The remarks come as tensions between Erbil and Baghdad have intensified following last Wednesday's decision by the Iraqi finance ministry to halt all budget transfers to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), including salaries for over one million public sector employees. In a letter to the KRG, Iraqi Finance Minister Taif Sami claimed that Erbil had exceeded its 2025 budget allocation of 12.67 percent by 13.547 trillion Iraqi dinars (approximately $10.34 billion), arguing that further payments are legally prohibited under Federal Supreme Court rulings. The move drew immediate condemnation from Kurdish political factions who held a meeting on Saturday, chaired by the ruling KDP, and denounced the funding suspension as politically-motivated. Two days earlier, on Thursday, the KDP had issued a strongly worded statement censuring the federal government for 'violating the constitutional rights of the Kurdistan Region.' It warned that 'if the rights and financial entitlements of the people of the Kurdistan Region are not sent before Eid al-Adha [on June 6], we will take a serious stance and announce it.' On Monday, the KDP's central committee endorsed the political bureau's position and praised other Kurdish parties for their unified response. It also welcomed what it described as 'positive indications' from the Federal Supreme Court and elements within the federal government toward resolving the standoff. The Federal Supreme Court announced on Sunday that it had registered a new lawsuit filed by public sector employees in the Kurdistan Region, seeking a legal injunction to guarantee continued salary payments. The court stated that a decision on the injunction request would be made 'as soon as possible.' It is worth noting that in February 2023, the same court issued a ruling explicitly stating that disputes over oil and non-oil revenues between Baghdad and Erbil must not be used as grounds to withhold constitutionally guaranteed monthly salaries. The latest KDP statement notably echoed remarks made by the party's leader Masoud Barzani, who underlined on Sunday that 'post-2003 Iraq was founded on the principles of balance, compromise and partnership within the framework of the Constitution [of Iraq].' The preeminent Kurdish leader asserted that 'the only way to resolve Iraq's problems is by adherence to these principles by all parties.'
Iraqi News
02-06-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Iraq, World Bank review support for development initiatives
Baghdad ( – The Iraqi Minister of Finance, Taif Sami, and the World Bank representative to Iraq, Emanuel Salinas Munoz, discussed on Sunday strategies to promote development projects by utilizing the bank's technical and financial support in implementing key initiatives to drive economic growth, particularly in infrastructure and human development. The two sides emphasized growing the private sector and boosting investment as the major drivers of long-term economic growth, as well as the need to support financial reforms to promote stability and prosperity, according to a statement cited by the Iraqi News Agency (INA). Munoz reaffirmed the World Bank's commitment to assisting Iraq in meeting its development goals and strengthening its ability to face economic and development difficulties. During her meeting last week with a World Bank group led by regional director Maskarine Bahrini, Sami highlighted the need for technical and financial assistance to steer resources toward initiatives that promote sustainability and the transition to a green economy. The two officials addressed World Bank programs related to environmental preservation and enhanced resource management, as well as mechanisms to assist climate change adaptation. Sami emphasized the significance of incorporating financial reform and environmental policy and reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to providing financial resources for initiatives that promote sustainability and the transition to a green economy.
