Officer supports Kouza’s claim

 A SENIOR parliamentary officer has supported a statement by Lae MP Loujaya Kouza that Parliament’s pay system has become erratic.

Kouza claimed on Monday that there was no money to pay workers, including MPs, since September last year.

The officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said yesterday that Parliament was facing serious financial problems, including the lack of funds to pay its workers, current MPs and former MPs on pension.

He blamed the present problems on financial mismanagement and extravagant expenditure on overseas trips, dubious service contract deals and double-dipping by senior parliamentary staff.

“The offices of the Speaker and Clerk do not have control over the expenditure that is being incurred from unnecessary overseas trips,” he said. 

“There is also no control on the many dubious service contracts that are being awarded to accomplices of certain senior officers. 

“Certain senior officers are double-dipping by getting vehicle allowances and using parliamentary vehicles on a 24-hour basis.”

The officer said the high expenditure had depleted Parliament’s funds, including the payroll.

The officer called on the Treasury and Finance Departments to investigate the financial management of the parliamentary accounts and discipline officers for the problems parliament office was facing.