MP refutes reports claiming food security bill went north of the 25-trillion-dinar-ceiling

Shafaq News/ The rapporteur of the parliamentary finance committee, Hasan al-Kaabi, refuted media reports claiming that allocated amount for the emergency bill on food security and development has went north of the 25-trillion-dinar-ceiling.

"The finance committee will convene tomorrow, Sunday, to finalize the final draft of the emergency bill on food security and development ahead of putting for vote in the next session," al-Kaabi said in an official press release.

"The reports stating that the allocated amount for the bill is more than 25 trillion dinars are unfounded," he added.

The second deputy speaker of the Iraqi parliament, Shakhwan Abdullah, voiced rejection of articles in the emergency food security bill for "including caveats for unnecessary expenses."

"We do not approve passing this formula of the food security bill. This bill is a huge responsibility of the parliament, particularly at this critical time," Abdullah said in a press release earlier on Saturday, "we need to set the necessary priorities and lock the door against corruption."

"As a parliament presidium and lawmakers, we seek to drive the food security bill toward these priorities: securing the items of the ration card and essential services, subsidizing agriculture, meeting the demands of farmers and unpaid lecturers, regularizing contract employees and daily wagers who have been in service for more than two years, and social welfare."

Abdullah said that article 14 of the 2019 financial administrative law and the ceiling of 1/12 of last year's expenditures are enough to suffice the country for this year.