By Our Reporter
NATIONAL/EXCLUSIVE
The Ministry of Public Service has written to the Chief Administrative Officer Namisindwa district querying the recruitment of 72 officials without clearance from the Ministry.
The letter dated 4th July 2022 and signed by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Public Service, Catherine Bitarakwate Musingwiire (Mrs) faults the district leadership for recruiting numbers over and above what had been cleared.
“Pursuant to Section 7 of the Public Service Act 2008, this Ministry issued Namisindwa District Local Government clearance to recruit Vide ARC 6/293/05 dated 25th August, 2021 for F/Y 2021/2022. The district was cleared to recruit a total number of 96 positions.” The Ps letter reads in part.
“Further clearance was given to recruit positions under Urban Unconditional grant and Agricultural Extension to consume the projected wage surplus of 34,316.808 and 271,557,108 respectively.” The letter explains further.
The PS however says the Ministry has established that Namisindwa District Local Government violated the clearance issued by recruiting numbers over and above what had been cleared.
Those therefore recruited outside the clearance stand chances of losing their jobs because the Ministry of Finance is not willing to provide a supplementary budget for what it called ‘irresponsible practices.’
Whereas the Ministry of Finance guided that wage shortfalls and unnecessary accumulation of arrears arising out of this practice shall be financed using the non-wage recurrent allocations of the Vote, this will automatically affect service delivery.
The letter also warned the CAO of disciplinary action.
“In light of the above, this is to direct you to provide a detailed explanation on this state of affairs and show cause why disciplinary action should not be preferred against you. The explanation should reach this office within five days from the date of receipt of this letter.” The PS concludes.
THE LIST OF OFFICERS RECRUITED WITHOUT CLEARANCE FROM MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SERVICE
- 4 Agricultural Officer at U4 SC
- 6 Human Resource Officers at U4
- 5 Assistant Town Clerks at U4L
- 2 Senior Commercial Officers at U3U
- 2 Senior Town Treasurers at U3U
- 23 Assistant Agricultural Officers at U5Sc
- 25 Assistant Animal Husbandry Officers at U5SC
- 1 Fisheries Officer at U4SC
- 2 Veterinary Officers at U4Sc
- 1 Education Officer at U4L
- 1 Senior Education Officer 1 at U3
OTHERS RECRUITED OVER AND ABOVE WHAT HAD BEEN CLEARED
The Ministry of Public Service had cleared the district to recruit 20 Primary Teachers but it instead recruited 145, 5 Deputy Primary School Head Teachers but the district recruited 7, 10 Mid wives but the district recruited extra 7, 2 Clinical Officers but the district recruited 6.
The Ministry also cleared the recruitment of 2 Assistant Accountants, the district however recruited 3. 8 Community development Officers were cleared for recruitment but the district instead recruited 19 and 4 Physical Planners instead of the cleared 3. In total, there over 200 civil servants now working in the district without clearance from the Ministry of Public Service.
The letter is copied to The Hon. Minister of Public Service, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to Treasury, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and the Auditor General.
