LC3s deserve better remuneration
Oct 17, 2007
LC3s in Kikandwa sub-county, Mityana district earn as low as sh20,000 per year. This is divided into sh5,000 per sitting. Such allowances are not only found in Kikandwa sub-county, but in many other rural sub-counties. In fact, many of them spend more on transport to attend the mandatory quarterly m
EDITOR’S COMMENT
LC3s in Kikandwa sub-county, Mityana district earn as low as sh20,000 per year. This is divided into sh5,000 per sitting. Such allowances are not only found in Kikandwa sub-county, but in many other rural sub-counties. In fact, many of them spend more on transport to attend the mandatory quarterly meetings, than the sh5,000 that they earn.
Certainly, this is not good for lower local governance. It is not surprising that in many sub-counties are on the verge of closing down, due to lack of funding. According to local leaders, the poor remuneration started with the scrapping of the graduated tax.
The little amounts that the LC3s collect from other sources of revenue are not enough to pay them a respectable allowance. The Local Government Act gives councillors not more than 20% of internally generated revenue. To make matters worse, many districts have failed to remit graduated tax compensation funds to the sub-counties.
And yet, according to the Local Government Act, they have a duty to debate and pass many of the policies that are implemented by the upper local government levels or LC5.
There is need to give incentives to the remotest sub-county councillors if LC3 councils are to be effective. For example, the Ministry of Local Government should set up a fund to cater for transport allowances to the quarterly meetings.
LC3s in Kikandwa sub-county, Mityana district earn as low as sh20,000 per year. This is divided into sh5,000 per sitting. Such allowances are not only found in Kikandwa sub-county, but in many other rural sub-counties. In fact, many of them spend more on transport to attend the mandatory quarterly meetings, than the sh5,000 that they earn.
Certainly, this is not good for lower local governance. It is not surprising that in many sub-counties are on the verge of closing down, due to lack of funding. According to local leaders, the poor remuneration started with the scrapping of the graduated tax.
The little amounts that the LC3s collect from other sources of revenue are not enough to pay them a respectable allowance. The Local Government Act gives councillors not more than 20% of internally generated revenue. To make matters worse, many districts have failed to remit graduated tax compensation funds to the sub-counties.
And yet, according to the Local Government Act, they have a duty to debate and pass many of the policies that are implemented by the upper local government levels or LC5.
There is need to give incentives to the remotest sub-county councillors if LC3 councils are to be effective. For example, the Ministry of Local Government should set up a fund to cater for transport allowances to the quarterly meetings.