Local Government Minister Vincent Mwale has announced an upwards adjustment in Councillors’ allowances from K700,00 to K3,000 across the board.
Mr Mwale has told Parliament that it has been agreed that ministry of finance will be responsible for paying Councillors their allowances.
He says the attorney general has guided his ministry that Councillors are entitled to be paid fees and allowances provided by the Minister in terms of the local government Act until such a time as the emoluments commission is operationalised.
Mr Mwale states once the emoluments commission is operationalised, it will be responsible for improving Councillors’ emoluments which include salaries, allowances,benefits and rights that form an individual’s remuneration for services rendered including pension benefits or other benefits on retirement.
He says the emoluments commission has not yet been operationalised as the envisaged law to operationalise it has not yet been passed.
Mr Mwale states that in term of the current law, Councillors are therefore entitled to be paid fees and allowances approved by the Minister of local government and not salaries