MBABANE: Neal Rijikernberg, the Minister of Finance is allegedly facing a fiscal headache ahead of the National Budget Speech to be delivered in Parliament next week.
Fiscal is an economic term and it relates to Government revenue, taxes and public debt but more broadly, it defines financial matters and money management regarding public spending, taxing and budgeting.
It has been disclosed that, the Finance Minister’s Budget Speech is highly expected to touch on among others, the 85% outstanding salary increment for civil servants as per an agreement signed with Public Sector Unions (PSUs) late last year.
In terms of the agreement Government was to immediately, pay fifteen percent (15%) and then, complete the implementation of the salary review by paying the outstanding eighty-five percent (85%) on or before the July 2026 Government payday.
Acting Government Spokesperson Thabile Mdluli declined to comment regarding the Budget Speech to be delivered by Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg next week.
But Lot Vilakati, the Secretary General of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) when responding to this Swaziland News earlier, said they won’t allow Government to negotiate for further delays as “civil servants are desperately”waiting for the outstanding salary increment.
“We are eagerly waiting for Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg to deliver the National Budget and we want to see the over R800million for the civil servants in the budget,” he said.
The SNAT Secretary General urged the Finance Minister to reduce salaries for Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament (MPs) and members of the Governing Council as the quickest way to reduce Government spending.
It has been disclosed that, the financial challenges has affected the payment of Government suppliers thus manifesting into serious cash flow challenges in the country.
Finance Minister Neal Rijikernberg (pic: Gov).