Alarming expenditure on ‘ghost names’

The Government is spending about K260 to K270 million every year on more than 6,000 unattached public servants who are still on government payroll.

Minister for Public Services, Westley Nukundj, confirmed the alarming expenditure recently and demanded answers from the management team of the Department of Personnel Management to find the cause and put a stop to ‘ghost names’ on the payroll.

Minister Nukundj has initiated the process of fixing the ongoing issue of payroll overrun that has been a concern for past and present Governments.

He said the Government is emphasising on the PPP concept and that is ‘one person gets paid for doing one job for one position (PPP)’.

“The Government is seeking answers as to why we have unattached officers and in which particular departments and agencies,” he stated.

He has given the Department of management team an ultimatum to furnish all government agencies’ payroll by close of business today and submit the report for alternate changes.

Nukundj added that all this information should be categorised into those that are over the age of 60 and due for retirement and those that have been suspended for over three months.

He stated that the Government was not necessarily trying to reduce cost but rather, establish a number that is effectively performing its duties against a position that the government pays.

Author: 
Freddy Mou