The Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu, has defended the push by Legislators for better emoluments as the Seventh Parliament prepares to dissolve.
The Legislature and Executive are currently trying to settle on gratuities for their members before the transition on January 7.
MPs are pushing for an increase in the package for the Legislature and have faced some criticism from the public.
Responding to a question on the matter during a press conference on Wednesday morning, Mr. Iddrisu said the public ought to consider the nature of MPs’ jobs.
“It is important that the public appreciates that for our job, there is no security of tenure… At the end of four years, [an MP] has to be entitled to it [better emoluments],” he argued.
“What we need to do is to carry the public along. There are many of you who comment as if MPs are not deserving of it [better amoluments],” the Minority Leader added.
Mr. Iddrisu further noted that there has been no adjustment in salary for MPs since 2017 “yet every public servant got some salary adjustment.”
He hopes that the emolument issues will be ironed out in addition to catering for salary arrears.
“All that is now being worked out. It is not just gratuity but salary arrears will be paid to deserving members of Parliament who have served their four-year term,” Mr. Iddrisu assured.
“I believe, and I stand by it that salaries of Members of Parliament equated to that of appeals court judges. That is my view, that is my notion and I think strongly that we will work towards that.”
Citi News checks indicated that the figures on the table for MPs are ranging from between a salary of GHS 21,000 to GHS 24,000 as well as a lump sum of between GHS400,000 and GHS600,000.
The contentions from MPs have led to a lack of progress in approving emoluments so far.
They are currently upset the proposed package does not meet the GHS600,000 that was paid to the MPs in the Sixth Parliament.
The Emoluments Committee’s report, among other things, recommends that the MPs take home an end of service package of four months of their salaries every year that they served in the Legislature.
The MPs, therefore, want the House to take a second look at some recommendations before Parliament dissolves.
The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has also said a possible retirement benefits scheme for MPs is under consideration.
The President is meant to approve the ex-gratia of MPs and the other Article 71 officeholders while Parliament approves that of the Executive.
Source:Fiilafmonline/CitiNews
