Former Finance Minister Taif Sami Refutes Claims of Missing Public Funds, Affirms Oversight Integrity

Former Finance Minister Taif Sami, on Thursday, refuted claims regarding the disappearance of $140 billion from public funds, asserting at the same time that non-oil revenues achieved a significant increase exceeding 100%. In a statement released by her office, Sami clarified that the remarks made by the former Deputy Minister of Finance, Masoud Haider, during a televised interview, concerning the alleged disappearance of the aforementioned sum, are baseless. She emphasized these claims are not supported by any reports or official documents issued by the competent oversight bodies. The former minister affirmed that oil revenues are subjected to stringent oversight and auditing procedures by relevant authorities, primarily the Federal Commission of Integrity and the Federal Board of Supreme Audit. Furthermore, oil export and marketing operations are governed by internationally accredited auditing and matching systems through specialized companies that monitor oil shipments and reconcile exported quantities with realized revenues. This makes it impossible for the mentioned amounts to disappear or be lost without appearing in official records and reports. Sami also highlighted that non-oil revenues have witnessed remarkable growth in recent years, attributed to the reform measures undertaken by the government and the Ministry of Finance. These measures included implementing the Point of Sale (POS) system and closely monitoring public companies supplying the state to ensure they settle their outstanding dues in accordance with legal regulations and with the approval of the Federal Board of Supreme Audit, transferring any remaining funds to the public treasury. Moreover, the customs automation system (ASSAUDA) was implemented, and the collection of taxes and fees through it was activated, which enhanced collection efficiency and reduced waste and manipulation. This was concurrent with the implementation of the Federal Court's decision, the budget law, and the financial management law. She indicated that the second phase of financial reforms saw a more than 100% rise in non-oil revenues compared to previous years. This was in addition to the application of the Unified Treasury System, which contributed to withdrawing and consolidating dormant and inactive balances and funds in inactive government accounts, subjecting them to central financial oversight and management. In this context, the former minister called upon the specialized departments within the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Board of Supreme Audit to prepare professional responses based on official data, to counter any statements or allegations that contradict the facts established in oversight records and reports. Sami stressed that the issue of Kurdistan Region's revenues differs from other federal revenues, as the region's specific revenues have not been transferred to the federal treasury in a manner that allows their inclusion in the aforementioned accounts and revenues. In conclusion of her statement, she clarified that maintaining public trust in financial and oversight institutions requires accuracy and responsibility in issuing statements, relying on official facts and documents, away from estimations or unsupported claims.