The Minister of Finance and Planning has promised to clear 10 months’ salary arrears for civil servants in three-month installments.
This comes after the minister, along with his 10 colleagues from the economic cluster and the Commissioner General of the National Revenue Authority, was grilled by the parliament over the country’s economic situation.
On Tuesday, Hon. Oliver Mori Benjamin, spokesperson for the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, disclosed to the media that the minister made the commitment on Monday during the closed-door questioning of the members of the economic cluster by the lawmakers.
“MPs suggested that these nine months be divided into three installments of each three months to be paid, and it was agreed by the cluster that depending on the resources available for them, this one will be put into consideration,” said Mori.
“The minister made it clear that he does not want further accumulation of salary arrears as we move forward. He took it upon himself to make sure that while struggling to pay the arrears, he is also working very hard to prevent any further accumulation."
The proposal involves dividing the arrears into three installments, each covering three months.
The spokesperson stated that the economic cluster agreed on the plan, understanding that its implementation would depend on the availability of resources.
The Commissioner General of the National Revenue Authority, Africano Mande, also presented a report during the closed-door session, detailing the progress in non-oil revenue collection.
According to Mori, Mande assured the parliament that the revenue collected would be sufficient to cover the salaries, but he stressed that his role is limited to collection.
"He collects all this money, and it is remitted to the Ministry of Finance. The house urged him to make monthly announcements of how much money is being remitted to ensure transparency,” Mori stated.
