Tundu Lissu

The official opposition in Parliament has faulted the budget allocated for the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC), saying it was too huge to be shouldered by taxpayers.
 
Shadow Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs Tundu Lissu criticized the allocation for the commission, saying despite the importance of the task force, it was not an opportunity for the government to make lavish spending.
 
Lissu said quick calculations showed in the 2012/2013 financial year members of the Commission will be paid numerous allowances amounting to Sh14.633 billion, equivalent to 43 per cent of the total budget allocated for the entity.
 
Giving the breakdown, Lissu said whenever members of the Commission convened for a meeting each member would pocket Sh 200,000 in sitting allowance.
 
He said sitting allowances alone for the whole new financial year would cost a whopping Sh 9.594 billion. Furthermore, each member would pocket Sh 50,000 in responsibility allowance everyday whether he has reported to work or not , bringing a total of Sh 630 million in 2012/2013 financial year.
 
The budget for the Commission shows Sh 10 million has been allocated for financing health services for members of   task forces who are not in the government system of medical services.
 
Members of the Commission’s Secretariat would be paid a total of Sh 4.399 billion in per diem in the 2012/2013 financial year. According to Lissu, an addendum from the government shows a total of Sh 2.032 billion would be spent in settling house rents for members of the secretariat.
 
Lissu said members of the Commission who are still civil servants should have remained with their salaries and their per diems.  He said such lavish spending tarnished the image of the government before the public, considering the fact that workers, including doctors and teachers are crying for better pay.
 
Lissu also demanded explanation from the government with respect to the trend of appointing MPs and military personnel as district and regional commissioners.
 
The Singida East MP who doubles as opposition chief whip said appointing military officers and MPs to the DC and RC posts created conflicts of interest especially when discharging their responsibilities in relation to the legislature.