Govrt urged to defer or completely write off the recovery of teachers allowances

National Action for Quality Education in Zambia (NAQEZ) in Kapiri Mposhi district of Central Province says Government’s plans to recover purported overpayments of allowances to teachers effective 1st July, 2022 will morally kill the affected teachers because the economy is still too unfriendly.

NAQEZ Central Province Secretary, Justine Kabungo has appealed to government to defer or completely write off the recovery of allowances purported to have been erroneously paid to public officials in the ministry of education.

The office of the auditor general recently conducted an audit of the payroll and revealed irregularities in the payments of various allowances in the Ministry of Education amounting to over K209 million.

Dr. Kabungo says while NAQEZ does not support and tolerate illegalities, there is need to be mindful of teachers’ economic status at present.

In a statement obtained by Q-News, Dr. Kabungo appeals to government to consider effecting the recoveries later when the economy improves.

He further urges government to clear the outstanding arrears it owes teachers before effecting recoveries from those who erroneously received the allowances in question.