Councillors to get their outstanding allowances

WARD councillors will have their outstanding allowances paid shortly, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Charles Abel.
He told Finschhafen MP Renbo Paita who questioned it in Parliament that the first lot of payments were made in January.
“It is our government that has given due recognition to the councilors in a long time.
“That recognition is coming through in the form of, initially, improved allowances and there’s been significant increase into the allowances,” he said.
He said councilors had for a long time been paid K100 a month.
“It is part of our government’s intention in terms of sub-national government empowerment including our hope and desire to give money to districts,” Abel said
“We intend to make sure that in the 2018 budget, some service improvement programme money goes down to the councilors through the ward development council.”
Abel said councilors received K10,000 each per year to contribute to development.
“Like many commitments in the budget and the ongoing cash flow issues that we are dealing with, our work every day is to make sure that we deliver the budget in totality.
“Despite the challenges, earthquakes and circumstances, we also see an improvement in the global economy.
“As we continue to do the work to fulfill the 2018 budget, there are resources coming in with the oil price hitting US$70 per barrel.
“We will be doing our best in making sure that before the Local Level Government (LLG) elections arrive, we make sure that the councilor’s allowances are paid out.”