Update on KRG Salary Disbursements
A reliable source within the Iraqi Council of Ministers has reported the completion of the salary list as of Thursday. A delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is scheduled to travel to Baghdad today, as confirmed by the Ministry of Finance.
For the past 11 days, representatives from the KRG Finance Ministry have been in Baghdad; however, Iraqi Finance Minister Taif Sami has yet to authorize the disbursement of salaries for the month. According to a KRG source, “There have been no issues with the salary list; these are standard procedures that have been resolved, and all necessary processes are complete.”
The upcoming delegation will address questions posed by Taif Sami and facilitate the distribution of February salaries. Key members of the delegation include Rebaz Abbas, advisor and director of the Finance Minister’s Office; Kovan Tahsin, Director General of Accounting; Hunar Jamal, Ministry of Finance Spokesman; and Maryam Osman, Director General of Pensions.
The salary list, finalized on Thursday of last week, could not be signed due to the holiday, according to a source from the Iraqi Council of Ministers. A technical delegation from the KRG has been engaged with officials in Baghdad for several days, and the resolution of the salary list issues has been confirmed, with reports indicating the delegation will return to Erbil shortly.
Minister Taif Sami’s Requests
In a letter dated February 3, 2025, Finance Minister Taif Sami outlined three requests to the KRG:
- Submission of a letter of finance for the December 2025 salaries of KRG employees.
- Completion of the data submission on the implementation of the “Tutin” for KRG employees in accordance with the Federal Supreme Court decision.
- Transfer of December 2025 non-oil revenues to the account designated for the Central Bank of Iraq (70018).
Review and Equality of Pensioners
The Finance Committee has indicated that disputes between the KRG and federal authorities largely revolve around the “spel of review,” a critical component for aligning revenues and expenditures. This review process helps ensure financial balance and minimizes the risk of accounting errors, enabling corrections prior to the final financial declarations and bolstering the reliability of financial data.
Despite reports of reduced salaries among some pensioners last month—ranging from one million to 700,000—officials have stated that this issue has been addressed. The technical committee confirmed that those affected will receive their full salaries this month. The transition towards salary equality between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad commenced in 2024; however, the process remains incomplete for many pensioners due to legislative delays surrounding the Pension Law.
The Finance Committee emphasized that adherence to the salary agreement between the two entities hinges on the resumption of oil exports. Any obstacles to these exports may adversely affect salary payments in upcoming months.
