Following the decision against Southern Kurdistan by the Iraqi Parliament after the independence referendum, the central government is now going to discuss cutting Kirkuk’s budget.

Iraqi Parliament Bedir Group MP Rezak Haydari spoke on the matter and said: “Not having the governor in the city means the budget and salaries of the province not being paid, because these all depend on the governor’s signature.”

Treasury Commission Member Heysem Cuburi said: “The government has the right to cut budgets for any provinces that harm the country’s budget or don’t transfer income to the central government.”

Kurdish MP Osman Tahir said: “If Kirkuk’s budget isn’t provided, the oil to be delivered to the Iraqi National Oil Company (SOMO) will be given to other companies. On the other hand, the Kurdistan Regional Government has allocated a significant budget for Kirkuk.”

The Iraqi Parliament had announced in September that they were removing Kirkuk Governor Najmaddin Kareem from duty. But the Kirkuk Provincial Council and Governor had announced that Baghdad doesn’t have the authority to do so, and that they were not going to recognize the decree.