Dier Tong Ngor, the ministry of Finance and Economic Planning - Courtesy

The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Dier Tong has promised payment of medical allowance to lawmakers.

This comes after the August House passed the fiscal year budget without incorporating a new salary structure for civil servants and soldiers.

The approval of medical allowance came after the legislators complained of facing health issues.

Legislators have not identified the health problems they faced.

However, some MPs have claimed lack of health allowances has led to the death of some of their colleagues.

Over the weekend, the former Deputy Speaker of Parliament Jasmine Samuel died of a short illness.

The reason for her death is still unknown.

However, Hon. Mary Nyarike, one of the female parliamentarians argue that to avoid such a sudden death they should be paid health allowances.

“Right Hon. Speaker, all members of the parliament are not healthy, we are not healthy at all, that’s we lost our sister the day before yesterday [Sunday],” said Mary.

“Within only one year we lost likely 40 members of the parliament and most of these people were not healthy,

“I am requesting the minister of finance because I know you are an able minister, you can do something, please recue the House of the people,

“If we lose these members of the parliament who have the capacity, and also senior politicians, we will have nothing in this nation.”

For her part, the Speaker of Parliament says the leadership is serious about the issue of health allowances for lawmakers.

Jemma Nunu confirmed to lawmakers that she discussed the issue with the Minister of Finance.

“The leadership of parliament is very serious about your health, that’s why we are engaged with the minister of finance who is also trying his best. He told you the last time soon,” said Nunu.

“Nobody can celebrate the death of anyone, we don’t want to lose any of our members if the parliament had money and would have got it yesterday not today.”

In response, the minister of finance, Dier Tong has confirmed that they will be paid soon but did not disclose the amount each MP will get as healthcare allowances.

“I know there are issues related to the members and, we talked about it last time the welfare of the members,” Tong said.

“I am in discussion with your leadership and I am sure my soon is soon, already my team is working on that based on the discussion we had with the leadership,

“I am sure if not today [Tuesday] I am sure by tomorrow [Wednesday] this thing [medical allowance] will be ready and your leadership will receive it.”

In the financial year 2022/2023 budget, the MPs allocated more than 79 billion pounds to the Transitional National Legislative Assembly.

This include nearly 18 billion pounds to wages and salaries, an addition of more than 23 billion pounds to the already over 28 billion pounds as uses of goods and services, and nearly 4 billion pounds as other expenditures.