The Minister of Public Service, Administrative Reforms, Policy Coordination and Delivery explained to the National Assembly Members (NAMs) why the payment of the Government proposed Transport and Residential allowances are yet to be effected.
According to Minister Bouy, Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs recently engaged his ministry to identify possible savings on the 2024 Personnel Emolument (PE) VOTE in a bid to effect payment of the said proposed allowance increments.
Hon. Baboucarr Bouy made this revelation on Tuesday March 13, 2024 as he appeared before the deputies at the national assembly to answer question from Foni Bintang Karanai representative, Hon. Bakary K. Badjie to explain why the proposed payment of Transport and Residential allowances of the public servants by The Gambia Government are yet to be paid.
“My ministry have done some analysis which we shared with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs and we are now waiting for them (Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs,” Public Service Minister informed deputies.
Hon. Minister informed deputies that, Cabinet at its Emergency Session in the 2024 Draft Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure on November 15, 2023, discussed and approved the proposal by the Minister of Public Service, Administrative Reforms, Policy Coordination and Delivery to increased Transport and residential allowances of public servants.
The said proposal Hon. Bouy explained before deputies, was to increase Residential allowance from D1700.00 to D3000.00 and Transport allowance from D1500.00 to D2500.00 respectively.
According to Public Service Minister, his ministry’s expectation was that, upon approval of the proposal to increase the said allowances by Cabinet, Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs was going to adjust the Personnel Emolument (PE) VOTE of the Civil Service accordingly to carter for these increments before submission of the 2024 Draft Budget to the National Assembly.
Public Service Minister Bouy therefore informed the National Assembly Members (NAMs) that his ministry later learnt that this was not done.