Salary reduction of MPs, removal of committee allowance proposed

Proposals have been made to the Parliament’s Financial Committee, to reduce the salary of members of Parliament (MPs) such that it equals the highest salary of civil servants, and to remove their committee allowance.

The proposition to reduce salaries of MPs was made by Nolhivaram MP Mohamed Nasheed (Colonel), and was supported by Bilaydhoo MP Ahmed Hamza.

The proposition to remove committee allowance was made by Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem.

The highest civil servant post is that of Permanent Secretary, of which the salary is Rf20500.

Meanwhile, Colonel had proposed to pay committee allowance of Rf20000 for March 2012, when no committee meetings were held. This was suggested at a meeting chaired by Hamza, and Colonel’s proposition was supported by Saleem.

However at today’s meeting, they stated that the salary of MPs is high enough to cause public concern.

Speaking in this regard, Colonel suggested that salaries of all independent institutions should be reduced to the same level. He also proposed that MPs should be included in Aasandha, despite them already being provided healthcare from ASEAN countries.

He said that the system which allows judiciary members, independent institutions employees, and holders of political posts to obtain healthcare from abroad should be abolished.

Committee Chairperson Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Nazim said that efforts are underway by the Financial Committee to reduce salaries and privileges of government institutions employees.