Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba’s plan to cut down salaries of MPs and senior public officials has begun in earnest.
A bill by Namwamba proposes amendments to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission Act to cut the ballooning wage bill.
The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2016, say public servants’ wage structure requires in-depth review because it is “grossly imbalanced with unacceptable disparities.” The Bill is heading for publication after approval by the Justice and Legal Affairs and Budget and Appropriations committees.
If it does go through, it will pose a number of problems to wages of MP’s which is likely to be a major stumbling block as far as its passing is concerned.
” The bill is long overdue. The disparity between public wages is alarming and something must be done to adress it,” he stated.
According to the MP, Section 11 of the SRC Act must be amended to compress and maintain the wage ratio at 30:1 from the current 98:1 — between highest and lowest paid officers.
He says the current wage ratio is highest, compared to the regional average of 20:1.
Whether it will receive support from MP’s remains to be seen though.
” I have so far received support from numerous quarters both within and outside the national assembly and I trust that it will be adopted,” he added.
