Puntland State lawmakers probe civil servants receiving only three months’ pay in 2025

Puntland Statelawmakers demand answers over unpaid salaries despite $300M-plus 2026 budget

GAROWE, Somalia — Puntland State state lawmakers on Friday pressed the government to explain why civil servants have received only three months of pay this year, even as parliament approved a 2026 budget topping $300 million.

During a contentious session in Garowe, members of the Puntland State State of Somalia Parliament called it unacceptable that budgets are passed annually but not fully executed. Lawmakers demanded a transparent accounting of funds earmarked for the salaries of civil servants and security forces and asked the Ministry of Finance to produce a full report on operational expenditures.

Several legislators argued that the government had previously said the costs of ongoing military operations were already factored into the general budget, and therefore should not be used to justify salary delays. They urged immediate clarity on how allocated funds were managed and where bottlenecks occurred.

The Parliamentary Finance Committee told lawmakers the government has pledged major improvements next year in paying civil servants and soldiers. The committee also said state revenues have risen with the rollout of a new tax system, signaling potential fiscal space to stabilize payroll.

The salary shortfalls add to mounting pressure on President Said Abdullahi Deni’s administration. Deni has faced sustained criticism over irregular wage payments across government departments, including among security forces whose morale and operational readiness depend on consistent pay.

Puntland State is currently conducting a military campaign against ISIS militants entrenched in the Bari mountains while navigating a protracted political dispute with Somalia’s federal government. The administration’s supporters argue that security imperatives and national political friction have strained finances; critics counter that those pressures underscore, rather than excuse, the need for rigorous budgeting and accountability.

Adding to the fiscal squeeze, Puntland State officials say the state has suffered a 60% reduction in funding from international organizations and the United Nations, part of a broader pullback in aid to Somalia. The reported drop has increased reliance on domestic revenues at the same time public-sector wage demands have intensified.

Lawmakers said their immediate priorities are a clear timetable for salary payments and a line-by-line explanation of how allocations are being deployed. They also want assurances that payroll funds will be insulated from operational fluctuations, given the government’s assertion that security costs are already embedded in the approved budget.

The debate highlights a growing gap between planning and execution in Puntland State’s public finances: robust budget approvals on paper versus uneven delivery in practice. With a 2026 spending plan now in place, legislators are insisting on stronger oversight, credible cash management, and full transparency on expenditures.

Key points raised by lawmakers and officials:

• Civil servants and security forces have been paid for only three months this year, according to lawmakers.
• Parliament approved a 2026 budget exceeding $300 million, raising questions about implementation and payroll protection.
• The Parliamentary Finance Committee said revenues have increased due to a new tax system and pledged improvements in salary payments next year.
• Puntland State is engaged in military operations against ISIS in the Bari mountains and remains in a political dispute with the federal government.
• Officials say international and UN funding to Puntland State has fallen by about 60% amid a wider decline in aid to Somalia.

The parliament’s finance overseers are expected to press the Ministry of Finance for detailed disclosures in the coming weeks. For rank-and-file public workers, the core measure of progress will be whether paychecks arrive regularly — and whether 2026’s ambitious budget translates into stable services and wages on the ground.

By Ali Musa

Axadle Times international–Monitoring.