Iraqi Kurdistan has $831 million in oil revenue but no salaries paid

Sherko Jawdat Mustafa, the head of the Kurdish parliament’s natural resources committee. Photo: SM

SULAIMANI, Kurdistan region ‘Iraq’,— Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) had more than $831 million dollars remaining from oil revenues over two months, but has not paid government employees.

A Member of Parliament from the Kurdistan Islamic Union party (KIU) on Monday highlighted the recent monthly oil reports from the Ministry of the Natural Resources MNR in a statement questioning the region’s financial status.

Sherko Jawdat, responsible for the Natural Resources Committee of the KRG Parliament told NRT, “According to the number that has been declared by the KRG Ministry of the Natural Resources, $831 million dollars for December 2015 and January 2016 after the coverage of KRG administrative costs.”

The KIU leader spoke out against recent salary structures saying, “we agree with reducing of the salary of the higher grade of course, but not with the basic employees of the KRG. Also we refuse the new system of salary.”

“The bad management of Kurdistan created this economy crisis. The KRG is not transparent of giving the number exact of the oil income to the public and Parliament,” the KIU leader said. The comments come following allegations the KRG has sent revenue abroad to international banks. The KIU figure released information that the government has over $831 million remaining after administrative costs, resulting from increase in oil production in the last few months.

Many Kurdish politicians and Observers believe that many of the oil industry projects in Iraqi Kurdistan are conducted in a non-transparent way. Some have even described them as secretive.

Iraqi Kurdistan leaders including Minister of Natural Resources Ashti Hawrami routinely accused of corruption by observers Kurdish officials.

KRG employees have not received salary payments in five months and the new system proposed reduction from 15 percent through 75 percent, depending on position.

Protests began prior to the recent policy announcement but have gained in momentum following the new salary reductions.

The KRG plan states salaries for September, October, November and December 2015 will be credited and paid out after the region emerges from the financial crisis.

Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani has been accused by critics of amassing huge wealth for his family instead of serving the population. Barzani’s son is the Kurdistan region’s intelligence chief and his nephew Nechirvan Barzani is the prime minister.

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