ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Monday reviewed public spending - including the allocations of the country’s top officials - and discussed maximizing revenues with his cabinet’s Economic Council, according to a statement from his office. The premier also ordered a recalculation of the Kurdistan Region’s non-oil revenues.
In an “extraordinary session” with the Council, the Iraqi premier discussed “the allowances and salaries of the three presidencies,” directing “an urgent review of this file” and calling for “the equalization of salaries and allowances for all staff in the Presidency of the Republic and the Presidency of the Council of Representatives with those of the Prime Ministry staff.”
He also instructed that a planning ministry committee update the unified salary scale report per the Council’s recommendations.
The Iraqi premier further ordered that “travel allocations for state employees be cut by 90 percent, permitted only when necessary and with the minister’s approval,” and to “reduce supervision and monitoring of new projects and establish a national import program limited to essential goods.”
Iraq’s government salary structure has long been controversial.
Reports indicate that Iraqi presidents, ministers, and lawmakers receive very high salaries, with the president earning up to 90 million IQD (around $70,000) per month and each minister around 45 million IQD (approximately $34,350).