Unexplained Postponement of KRG Meeting on Public Salaries, ‘Runaki’ Electricity Project
Peregraf
The scheduled regular meeting of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Council of Ministers, which was set to discuss the price of 24-hour electricity project under the KRG’s "Runaki" (Illumination) initiative and the delayed April salaries for public sector employees, did not convene as planned. No official explanation was provided for the postponement.
According to the agenda, the meeting was supposed to take place today, Wednesday, May 7, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
Key Agenda Items Left Undiscussed
1. Discussion on the Draft Decision Regarding the "Runaki" Project and 24-Hour Electricity Supply
The first item on the agenda was a review of the draft resolution by the Council of Ministers concerning the KRG’s "Runaki" project, aimed at ensuring 24-hour electricity supply while reducing operational costs and wastage. The Minister of Electricity was expected to present the proposal.
2. Follow-up on April 2025 Salary Disbursements for KRG Employees
The second item was a follow-up on the delayed April 2025 salaries for public sector employees in the Kurdistan Region. The KRG Minister of Finance was supposed to provide clarifications on the matter.
3. Coordination Between KRG and Federal Iraqi Audit Institutions Another key topic was the "assignment of ministries and non-ministerial entities by the Council of Ministers to enhance coordination with the joint audit committee of the Federal Financial Supervision Bureau of Iraq and the KRG."
No Official Explanation for Postponement
The meeting was abruptly postponed without any official statement regarding the reasons behind the delay.
The failure to hold the meeting comes amid mounting frustration among public sector employees, who have yet to receive their April salaries. Additionally, the KRG’s 24-hour electricity project has faced backlash due to its exorbitant pricing—reportedly eight times higher than the previous government-subsidized rates—sparking public protests and demands for reduced electricity costs.
Federal Government Disputes Further Complicate Salary Payments
A well-informed source in Baghdad revealed to Peregraf last night that despite efforts by both the KRG and federal authorities, Iraq’s Finance Minister, Taif Sami, and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani have not yet reached an agreement on releasing the April salaries for KRG employees.
The source indicated that the Iraqi federal Finance Minister disputes the revenue share submitted by the KRG under the label of "Federal Treasury share from the Kurdistan Region’s non-oil revenues," arguing that the amount transferred does not reflect the KRG’s actual earnings.
According to KRG financial records, the Kurdistan region has transferred the following amounts to Baghdad in recent months:
- January 2025: 51 billion, 895 million, 457 thousand IQD
- February 2025: 48 billion, 722 million, 239 thousand IQD
- March 2025: 48 billion, 205 million, 765 thousand IQD
Political Tensions Over Oil Exports
The source further noted that Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Sudani is under pressure from Shiite factions, who are dissatisfied with the KRG’s reluctance to resume oil exports. They accuse the KRG and its oil companies of deliberately obstructing the resumption of oil flows.
"Al-Sudani is facing political pressure because the KRG and its oil companies are creating obstacles to restarting oil exports. Therefore, he is hesitant to approve the salary disbursement until these issues are resolved," the source told Peregraf.
KRG Finance Ministry Apparently Assures Cooperation with Federal Audit Team
Yesterday, the KRG Ministry of Finance announced that Awat Sheikh Janab, the KRG Finance Minister, met with a joint audit team from the Federal and KRG Financial Supervision Bureaus to prepare a detailed report on the Kurdistan Region’s revenues and expenditures for the first three months of 2025.
The ministry reiterated its full cooperation, stating that all necessary data will be provided to the joint audit team.
Ongoing Negotiations Over Oil Exports
Meanwhile, Sabah Subhi, Deputy Chairman of the Iraqi Parliament’s Oil and Gas Committee, revealed that a KRG delegation is currently in Baghdad negotiating the resumption of oil exports.
Following recent discussions with Prime Minister Al-Sudani, Sobhi stated that some solutions have been proposed to resolve the disputes hindering the KRG’s oil export process.
The postponement of today’s KRG Council of Ministers meeting leaves critical financial and energy issues unresolved, exacerbating public discontent over unpaid salaries and soaring electricity prices. With tensions persisting between Erbil and Baghdad over oil revenue sharing and export resumption, a swift resolution appears unlikely in the near term.