Iraqi Finance Minister: Salary Payments Contingent on Oil Exports via SOMO

PUKMEDIA

Iraqi Finance Minister taif Sami.

Iraqi Finance Minister Taif Sami confirmed that the disbursement of May salaries to the Kurdistan Region is contingent upon the transfer of non-oil revenues and the export of the Region’s oil through the State Oil Marketing Organisation (SOMO).

On Sunday, 20 July 2025, the Iraqi Parliament’s Finance Committee hosted Finance Minister Taif Sami to discuss matters related to national revenues and public expenditure. During the session, the Finance Minister was confirmed that the disbursement of May salaries to the Kurdistan Region is contingent upon the transfer of non-oil revenues and the export of the Region’s oil through the State Oil Marketing Organisation (SOMO).

Dr Narmin Maruf, a member of the Finance Committee and a Member of Parliament from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) bloc, told PUKMEDIA: "Minister Taif Sami confirmed that the transfer of May salaries to the Kurdistan Region is conditional on the Region transferring its non-oil revenues and resuming oil exports via SOMO."

Dr Maruf added: "The Minister reiterated the Iraqi federal government’s commitment to the agreements concluded with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). If the Region transfers 120 billion dinars in non-oil revenues for May and resumes oil exports through SOMO, the Ministry of Finance will proceed with the salary payments."

In a related statement, Atwan al-Atwani, Chairman of the Finance Committee in the Iraqi Parliament, said at a press conference: "The Minister of Finance clarified that, once the regional government fulfils its commitments under the agreement, salaries will be disbursed. We remain fully committed to the terms of the agreement between the two governments."

He emphasised the importance of the KRG honouring the memorandum concluded with the federal government and beginning oil exposrts through SOMO. 

On 17 July 2025, the Iraqi Council of Ministers, in an extraordinary session chaired by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani, formally approved the memorandum of understanding signed between the KRG and the Iraqi government. The agreement outlines arrangements concerning oil exports, non-oil revenues, and the disbursement of public sector salaries.

Public employees in the Kurdistan Region have now gone without salaries for over 70 days despite the agreement between the two governments. The fate of their May and June payments remains uncertain, deepening concerns over the welfare of thousands of civil servants in the Region.



PUKMEDIA