JUBA – The government has spent at least $9.75 million on lawmakers with each of the 650 members of parliament receiving at least $15,000 for medical allowances, according to the chairperson of parliamentary information committee.
John Agany Deng said the lawmakers were supposed to receive at least $50,000 for this year’s medical allowances, but renovation of parliament building has resulted in cut with each receive, for now, $15,000.
“It has already been given. Though it is not even complete it’s ok for those sick MPs they will go for medication. This is public money, there is nothing that people should shy away from, it’s something that is given by the law,” said Hon. Agany.
According to the lawmaker, each member of parliament is entitled to $50,000 to cater for medical expenses.
“Every year each should get $50,000 dollars per annual but sometimes when the assembly has over-expanded, the membership becomes greater than before, it has reduced to $30,000 dollars,” he said.
“Now they have been given $15,000 dollars which is not bad. If you are in the region, you can get better treatment, and unless you decided to go outside. In fact, it’s a good gesture for the government to do that because many MPs have died,” he added.