MPs reject vehicle maintenance allowance for House chiefs, PM

Lawmakers, this week, agreed that top politicians should get allowances and fringe benefits but refused what they termed as unwarranted extravagance, especially lump sum allowances.The decision was taken when the standing committee on social affairs presented its final report on the draft organic law determining allowances and benefits for top politicians, as earlier tabled by the Minister of Public Service and Labour, Anastase Murekezi.MPs voted against the idea of giving politicians in the second category – the Prime Minister; the President of Senate and the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies – a lump sum allowance for their vehicles, saying the category was already sufficiently catered for.Senior political leaders are put in four categories on the basis of the weight of their offices. The first category comprises the Head of State while the Prime Minister; the President of Senate and the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies are clustered in the second category. The third category comprises Ministers; Vice Presidents of Senate; Deputy Speakers. State Ministers; Provincial Governors and the Mayor of the City of Kigali. Senators and Deputies are in the fourth category.Article four of the bill states that allowances and benefits allocated to the President will include: a monthly allowance equivalent to the salary allocated to a State High Political Leader of the second category with an addition of 40 per cent of that salary; a fully furnished residence; transport facilitation; entertainment allowance at work; communication and residence allowance, as well as security. However, when it came to category two allowances and fringe benefits, MPs forced a vote on the matter of the lump sum. Despite explanations by Murekezi and committee chairperson, Esperance Mwiza, MPs complained that “it was not right” for the House to ignore the economy’s budget limitations.Initially, article five which highlighted allowances and fringe benefits for top politicians in the second category, noted that they shall each be entitled to: a monthly salary; a residence with equipment; transport; guest entertainment allowance at work and communication and residence entertainment allowances.It added that politicians in category two will receive payment for water and electricity bills by the State; security; State contribution for the purchase of own vehicles; and a lump sum for their own vehicle’s maintenance.The lump sum for vehicle’s maintenance irked MPs. The ensuing debate forced a vote on the matter, and the lump sum was taken out after a 30 minute adjournment of the plenary session and another vote. Initially, MP Abbas Mukama, the vice chairperson of the committee on budget and national patrimony, particularly objected, saying: “We need to consider the management of national resources. For other categories, the need of this lump sum is clear.” Allowances for the third category , include a monthly salary; accommodation allowance; guest entertainment allowance at work; communication allowance; security; a State grant for home equipment provided only once; State contribution for the purchase of own vehicle; and lump sum for own vehicle’s maintenance.For the fourth category, they include: a monthly salary; accommodation allowance; communication allowance; State contribution to the beneficiary for the purchase of an MP’s own vehicle and lump sum for the vehicle.Normally, politicians in the third and fourth categories buy their own vehicles – with their own money – but are exempted from taxes only, like most other politicians, but they use the same vehicles in carrying out government work. However, category two is given all necessary facilitation by the government without spending a dime. MP Henriette Mukamurangwa said: “It is not realistic that the leaders [in category two] be given a lump sum. The rationale for lump sum is money given to government politicians to facilitate them when buying fuel and other necessities as they use the vehicle at work. Therefore, the explanations you are giving us are not satisfactory,” she said. “Let them use their own vehicles, like others, and then they will also be allocated a lump sum, and the government vehicles be removed. There are two options. Let them take one!” Minister Murekezi, however, continued to request MPs to support the idea of lump sum for category two, noting that “in the previous law, it had been forgotten.” In the ensuing vote of the entire bill, article by article, article five hit a snag and the Speaker was forced to briefly adjourn the session so that the committee could consult. After the 30 minutes adjournment, the plenary again voted and the clause on lump sum was scrapped from the second category’s list of allowances.

National

MPs reject vehicle maintenance allowance for House chiefs, PM