At a Glance

• Lawmaker Muhammad said 2027 federal budget drafting is underway with submission set for September.
• KRG submits a 29 trillion dinar proposal pushing for a 14.1% budget share.
• She underlined that Erbil and Baghdad must resolve outstanding disputes over oil revenues and domestic income.

Srwa Muhammad, Kurdish Lawmaker in Iraqi parliament, stated that the drafting of the 2027 federal budget bill has commenced, with the legislation scheduled for submission to parliament by September 15. Therefore, she emphasized, it was necessary for multiple Kurdistan Region delegations to be in Baghdad at this time.

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Key Statement and Focus Area

• Srwa Muhammad said that a final agreement must be reached now on oil, domestic revenue, the oil and gas law, employment, and the Kurdistan Region's budget share.
• She noted that necessary signatures have been gathered within the Council of Representatives to implement the employment of the top three graduating students and to grant permanent status to contract employees.

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Muhammad, a member of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, told Channel8 that efforts are underway to increase the Kurdistan Region's budget share from 12.67% to 14% and secure it within the law.

She highlighted that Kurdish lawmakers will vote in unity to increase the budget allocation and safeguard the interests of the Region.

Regarding the fate of the top three graduates and employment opportunities, Muhammad mentioned that during the fifth parliamentary term, over 200 signatures were collected to employ the Kurdistan Region's top three graduates similarly to their Iraqi counterparts, and civil service grades were allocated for them. 

However, due to the late submission of names, their files are currently with the Federal Civil Service Council and require final confirmation of their names.

According to information from the Iraqi Council of Ministers, if employment is included in the 2027 budget, job opportunities will be very limited.

This makes it necessary for the KRG delegation to visit Baghdad and request employment for both the top three graduates and contract workers.

FYI

The Kurdistan Regional Government has officially transmitted its 29 trillion dinar 2027 draft budget proposal to Baghdad, aiming to secure an increased 14.1% share of the national budget. 

This allocation is intended to cover public sector salaries, infrastructure investments, and permanent contracts for temporary staff.

Concurrently, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi announced that Baghdad will soon submit the federal budget draft to parliament as a strategic economic roadmap. 

Al-Zaidi stated that the upcoming bill will transition to a performance-based system, guarantee public salaries, and prioritize heavy investments in the electricity and solar energy sectors.

This legislative drafting is considered a critical milestone in Erbil-Baghdad relations. Securing the region's financial entitlements depends heavily on early negotiations by Kurdish delegations, particularly regarding outstanding issues like the oil and gas law and domestic revenue. 

Furthermore, these talks are crucial for resolving human resource files, including employment opportunities for contract workers and the top three graduates within the general framework of the federal budget.

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