By GABRIEL FITO
EAST Sepik local government adviser Lukas Engime has denied allegations by a former LLG president that the provincial government did not pay them monthly allowances since 1997.
Mr Engime said even though the Salaries and Remuneration Committee (SRC) had approved a monthly payment of K200 for each councillor, it was the provincial government’s prerogative to pay according to its revenue.
He said the National Government had not paid these councillors since 1997 when their salary increased from K100 to K200.
Mr Engime said the K100 was the provincial government’s commitment even though there were shortfalls in the province’s revenue.
He said the councillors should appreciate what they were getting today because years back they were only paid K50 per month.
Mr Engime was reacting to allegations by former Boikin Dagua LLG president and councillor Mike Primus, who claimed the provincial government was cheating them and not paying their full monthly allowance.
Mr Primus told The National last week that each councillor since 1997 should have been paid K200 monthly as determined by the SRC, however, this was not so for them.
He said they were only getting the National Government’s component of K100 , while nothing came of the provincial government’s component.
Mr Primus said the councillors had been doing a great job and it was discouraging for the provincial government to not recognise their efforts.
He said the administration should ensure it paid these outstanding allowances before the LLG elections this year.
Mr Engime, however, said provincial governments could not commit funds when there were revenue shortfalls.
He said such increments would be subjected to provincial executive council’s decision, depending on the provincial revenue.