Eco Iraq: Presidential salaries consume 11.5% of employee funds
Eco Iraq: Presidential salaries consume 11.5% of employee funds
2026-01-31
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Eco Iraq Observatory announced on Saturday that the salaries of the three presidencies in Iraq (the Presidency of the Republic, Parliament, and Council of Ministers) represent about 11.5% of the total salaries of state employees, describing these salaries as “high and unjustified” compared to the average citizen.
The observatory said in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that “the total salaries of state employees until November 2025 amounted to about 56 trillion dinars,” explaining: “As for the salaries of the Council of Ministers, they amounted to about 5.9 trillion, the Council of Representatives 0.5 trillion, and the Presidency of the Republic 0.04 trillion dinars, bringing the total salaries of the three presidencies to 6.46 trillion dinars.”
The observatory considered that “these astronomical expenses on presidencies come at the expense of public services that citizens need directly, and they constitute a waste of public money,” noting that “these institutions are not directly service-oriented and citizens do not experience their services, while millions of employees receive meager salaries for their daily work.”
The statement explained that “the continuation of this situation reflects a clear gap in government spending priorities and raises serious questions about the fairness of the distribution of public resources.”
An informed source told the agency on Friday evening that the Iraqi Ministry of Finance had secured the salaries for the month of January through transfers between ministries and government departments.
It should be noted that Shafaq News Agency has previously highlighted the current liquidity crisis in the country, especially with the growing anxiety and discontent among state employees due to the delay in releasing their monthly salaries.
It is worth noting that most ministries and state institutions have not yet received the salaries of their employees due to a lack of financial liquidity, despite completing the procedures and sending the payroll lists to the Ministry of Finance, which has led to a delay in disbursing the dues in light of the scarcity of cash at government banks.
shafaq.com
