Don't pay us the increased allowances - Prasad and Singh

National Federation Party parliamentarians Professor Biman Prasad and Prem Singh have written to the Speaker Dr Jiko Luveni saying that they will not accept the increased allowances for parliamentarians.

39 parliamentarians had voted for the increased allowances, 9 parliamentarians were absent while Biman Prasad and Prem Singh voted against the motion last week.

Although the Parliamentary Emoluments Committee tabled the report and a vote was then taken in parliament, NFP says the process lacked independence, transparency and accountability, and they  have formally informed the Speaker’s office that the two MPs will not accept any increases in allowances of any kind that was passed by Parliament. 

The two NFP parliamentarians say that they cannot be a party to anything, worse still a parliamentary resolution that allows  Members of Parliament to solely decide and approve for themselves  through parliamentary vote, emoluments that solely benefit them.

Prasad and Singh have told the Speaker in the letter that they  should only be paid allowances stipulated at the old rates, if they are entitled to any allowance.