In a twist of events that will most certainly rattle and irk a section of government employees, Information Michael Makuei on Friday announced that the 400 percent salary increment which was passed in the 2023/24 fiscal budget only applies to civil servants and not public servants.
Makuei who was addressing the press after the regular Friday Council of Ministers meeting, stated that the cabinet also listened to a presentation from Finance Minister Dr. Bak Barnaba Chol about the improved salary scale.
He said that Dr. Chol told the cabinet that payment of the July salary arrears is progressing well and that the finance ministry is working on amending the Emoluments Act for constitutional post holders and the legislators.
“Public servants have not been included in the new enhanced salary scale for the civil servants and therefore the finance minister was directed to work on the Emoluments Act to adjust the salaries of the public servants,” he said. “It is worth mentioning that this new salary structure did not apply to public servants, it is only for civil servants. Public servants are constitutional post holders and legislators and this (salary enhancement) did not include them and they are still on their old pay.”
“When the Emoluments Act is amended, this is when their (public servants) salaries will be adjusted accordingly,” Minister Makuei added.
According to the information minister, the cabinet directed Finance Minister Chol to continue with the process of amending the Emoluments Act.
Editor: Main Difference – Civil Servant vs Public Servant
Both the terms Civil Servant and Public Servant look the same in their meaning, but there is a slight difference between them. Civil means relating to national, public, or social aspects. Public also gives a more or less similar meaning. However, a civil servant can be defined as a bureaucrat hired by the government to work for the public sector.
A public servant, on the other hand, is an elected or appointed member of the government for social or public services. This is the main difference between a civil servant and a public servant.