The National Union of Public and Private Educators of Zambia (NUPPEZ) has called on government to urgently investigate alleged irregularities in the national payroll system, following reports of unauthorized deductions from civil servants’ salaries.
This comes in the wake of a statement by Acting Minister of Finance and National Planning, Chipoka Mulenga, who announced plans to decentralize the administration of loans offered by microfinance institutions.
Speaking in an interview with RCV News in Lusaka today, NUPEZ Executive President, Victor Muyumba, welcomed government’s decision, describing it as long overdue, given the low-income levels of most public sector workers.
“Civil servants are already struggling to make ends meet and if these deductions are not addressed, the situation will only worsen,” said Mr. Muyumba.
He also praised the decentralization initiative, saying it will enhance civil servants’ access to essential resources, including farming equipment, which could help improve their livelihoods.
By Christabel Kamunu
