Iraqi government denies reports linking public service payments to payment of utility bills

BAGHDAD — The General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers on Thursday denied social media claims that citizens would be required to pay electricity and water bills before completing transactions at state departments, calling the reports “inaccurate and misleading.”

Posts shared Wednesday alleged that the Cabinet had instructed government offices to suspend paperwork for citizens who had not paid their electricity, water, phone, or sewage bills, sparking public criticism over service quality and the potential impact on low-income households.

“The news circulating on some social media platforms regarding the imposition of a collection system on citizens and the suspension of any government transactions until electricity and water fees are paid is inaccurate and misleading,” the secretariat said.

It clarified that the Council of Ministers “has not issued any decision imposing collections on citizens,” explaining that the referenced measure “applies only to business owners, factories, and government entities.” The policy, it said, is part of implementing Article 18 of the federal budget law, which supports industrial operations and the private sector while ensuring laws are applied “fairly and transparently.”

The statement added that the circulated reports were part of “media campaigns aimed at spreading confusion and distorting facts,” stressing that the government “continues to implement its service and development programs in the interest of all citizens.”