Govt releases pensioners’ cash
Mar 10, 2011
THE Ministry of Finance has released sh22b as payment for over 60,000 pensioners for February and March.<br><br>A source at the public service ministry that preferred anonymity confirmed that sh11b for February was yesterday morning credited to the pensioners’ accounts.
By Josephine Maseruka
THE Ministry of Finance has released sh22b as payment for over 60,000 pensioners for February and March.
A source at the public service ministry that preferred anonymity confirmed that sh11b for February was yesterday morning credited to the pensioners’ accounts.
The source added that another sh11b for March would be released next week.
This follows an outcry from pensioners over delayed payment for February. Previously, they have been receiving pension around mid-month.
Last week, finance minister Syda Bbumba assured pensioners that they would be paid this week, but by yesterday afternoon, many claimed that their accounts had not been credited.
Bbumba also rubbished recent press reports that the money meant for civil servants’ salaries had been diverted to finance the just-concluded presidential campaigns.
She also said there were delays in paying the February pensions because of an underestimation of the amount of pension and gratuity to be paid out, including arrears.
The source expressed concern that non-payment of gratuity since February could result in accumulated pension arrears.
“We used to have a burden of pension arrears and we had cleared it. Due to non-payment of gratuity since February, the problem is likely to re-occur,†the source said.
Gratuity is a lumpsum amount of money given to a pensioner in return for service..
The source explained that every month, the public service ministry registers 450 new pensioners, implying that about 5,400 new pensioners are registered every year.
THE Ministry of Finance has released sh22b as payment for over 60,000 pensioners for February and March.
A source at the public service ministry that preferred anonymity confirmed that sh11b for February was yesterday morning credited to the pensioners’ accounts.
The source added that another sh11b for March would be released next week.
This follows an outcry from pensioners over delayed payment for February. Previously, they have been receiving pension around mid-month.
Last week, finance minister Syda Bbumba assured pensioners that they would be paid this week, but by yesterday afternoon, many claimed that their accounts had not been credited.
Bbumba also rubbished recent press reports that the money meant for civil servants’ salaries had been diverted to finance the just-concluded presidential campaigns.
She also said there were delays in paying the February pensions because of an underestimation of the amount of pension and gratuity to be paid out, including arrears.
The source expressed concern that non-payment of gratuity since February could result in accumulated pension arrears.
“We used to have a burden of pension arrears and we had cleared it. Due to non-payment of gratuity since February, the problem is likely to re-occur,†the source said.
Gratuity is a lumpsum amount of money given to a pensioner in return for service..
The source explained that every month, the public service ministry registers 450 new pensioners, implying that about 5,400 new pensioners are registered every year.