Biman Prasad and Prem Singh still want old allowance rate

National Federation Party parliamentarians Biman Prasad and Prem Singh are now caught in a situation as they can only receive the new increased parliamentary allowances approved by parliament.

The two MPs had earlier indicated that they voted against the increase and they want to be paid the old allowance rate.

They had written letter to the Speaker, Doctor Jiko Luveni that they want to be paid the old allowance rate and the Speaker had responded to them on October 4th saying that the contents of their letter was duly noted and the Office of the Secretary General is being instructed to act accordingly.

The Office of the Secretary-General to Parliament has made it clear that a cheque was prepared for NFP parliamentarian, Prem Singh despite concerns raised that he was not given any allowance during a recent trip with three other parliamentarians to the Pacific Parliamentarians Forum in Wellington.

In response to concerns by the NFP, the Office of the Secretary-General to Parliament says Prem Singh was advised verbally that his cheque with the new allowance rate had been prepared but he refused to collect the cheque.

The Office of the Secretary General to Parliament confirms that it sought a legal opinion in relation to the request from the NFP that they are paid allowances in accordance with the old rates before parliament passed the increased allowances under the Parliamentary Remunerations Decree 2014.

They were advised that the secretariat could not deviate from the determination as that would be a breach of the provisions of the decree.

The Office of the Secretary General says it will inform Prem Singh that they can only pay the new allowance as it has been approved by parliament.

The NFP has now received a letter from the Office of the Secretary General to Parliament clarifying that it is legally wrong to request for the old parliament allowance rate.

The letter which was directed to NFP Whip, Prem Singh states that the Parliamentary Accounts Section has been advised to only pay allowances according to the new rate.

When questioned on whether the NFP would not accept any allowance at all as only the new allowance will be paid out, NFP Whip Prem Singh says the party insists that they want to be paid on the old rate.