This archive report was first published on 21 August 2020.
Published on August 21, 2020, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission's review of State officers' pay has sparked concerns about fairness and economic realities.
The commission's benchmarking of neighbouring countries, including South Africa, India, Canada, and the US, aims to ensure that State officials are adequately compensated for their responsibilities.
However, past reviews have benefited a small cadre of State officers, leaving out hard-working officials who need motivation.
The commission must strike a formula that balances compensation with the preservation of public resources, lest the wage bill becomes bloated with ramifications for the economy and development.
Furthermore, an unfair review could ignite demands for higher pay from other public servants, exacerbating the problem.
The commission expects an upward review of the pay to accommodate inflation and compensate for the 2017 salary cuts.
Ultimately, taxpayers can only hope that beneficiaries will be contented and keep off from State coffers, where schemes to waste taxpayer money are prevalent among top State officials and servants.
