The Minister of Cabinet Affairs has denied accusations by some Members of the Transitional Parliament that the executive branch of the government has increased its salaries without approval.

Last week, MPs at the National Legislative Assembly expressed disappointment over the allocation of funds towards various government agencies in the new budget 2017/2018.

Some of the lawmakers said the Ministry of Finance had allocated huge sums of money to some agencies at the expense of other institutions.

Most of the MPs who spoke said the proposed budget has paid little attention to the economic crisis, by not addressing the salary for civil servants.

One of the MPs, Hon. Dusman Joyce, who was reacting to the budget reading, said their salaries have remained the same despite the continued devaluation of the pounds.

“Terrible allowance”

Hon. Joyce said the cabinet increased their salaries and ignored the request of the parliament to reflect their wages in the new budget.

“We are really suffering in this parliament; we don’t have transport, we don’t have allowances, no outfit. The medication allowance is terrible,” she told the august house.

It’s unclear how much an MP earns.

“Last time we were told that the Cabinet Minister will table the [Emolument] Act, but up to now, they didn’t table [it], but the executive has increased their salary without the parliament passing it. Which law did they use?” She said.

In response, the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Dr. Elia Lomoro, denied any pay rise.

“What we have increased is the operations money, which is what is used to be given to the offices of the ministers to buy stationaries – to buy things to do with their work,” Dr. Lomoro rejected the allegation.

He said he is yet to present the Emolument Act to the parliament, adding that it’s only through the act that the increment will be reflected in the budget.

Last month, the Minister of Finance presented to the parliament the Appropriation Bill 2017/2018, seeking approval for over 40 billion Pounds.