Discussions underway in relation to NFP’s conditions - Namosimalua

The Secretary General of Parliament Viniana Namosimalua says they are currently having discussions and also consulting internally in relation to National Federation Party’s conditions of receiving the new increased parliamentary allowances.

The NFP has conditionally agreed to receive the new increased parliamentary allowances that were approved by Parliament in September, last year.

The party had earlier opposed it.

NFP’s leader Professor Biman Prasad and Prem Singh had voted against the increase and they wanted to be paid the old allowance rate.

Prasad says the NFP has agreed to accept the new rates after receiving a letter from the Secretary General of Parliament that Parliament is unable to pay him and Prem Singh on the old rate.

When contacted today, Namosimalua highlighted that they will have to advise the Speaker Dr. Jiko Luveni after having their discussions.

Professor Biman Prasad and Prem Singh of NFP have stated that they will accept the new rates only if Parliament provides them with a breakdown of emoluments that they would have received on the old rate before 29th September last year.

The Party has also decided that the excess allowances paid under the new rate will be deposited into the NFP Relief and Welfare Accounts to be used for charitable, welfare and relief purposes.

Prasad and Singh have stated that they will not personally and financially benefit from the increased emoluments paid to them.

Both have also highlighted that they are unable to accept the fact that paying reduced allowances under the old rate constitutes a breach of Parliamentary Remunerations Decree 2014.