Free fuel for public servants to stop

The Minister of Public Sector Reform, Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom has disclosed that his ministry's efforts at consolidating allowances and other fringe benefits of public servants are aimed at eliminating the fuelling of vehicles, payment of utility bills as well as other expenses of public servants.

He was responding to a parliamentary question on whether in view of increases in the world petroleum prices, it was not prudent yet to reconsider the system of fueling vehicles of public servants by government.

Dr. Nduom assured parliament on Tuesday that the issue is receiving a lot of attention and noted that a bill to establish a wages and salaries commission was also in the offing.

“He noted that the Ministry has come to appreciate the importance of pay and remuneration in the working lives of public servants and the low levels of salaries being received by all public servants, including Members of Parliament”, the paper said.

Dr. Nduom is also reported as saying that there was repeated and demonstrable evidence linking low wages paid to public officers to lack of commitment and professionalism and susceptibility to corruption.

“It affects the ability of the sector to attract and retain highly qualified and skilled personnel.”

Dr. Nduom explained that in 2005, Government accepted a recommendation to implement a programme of progressive monetization of non-cash benefits in the public service.

The programme seeks to gradually transform some benefits that public servants are entitled to, into cash to be paid to them directly as part of their salaries so that they themselves would have the option and the choice to procure those services.