By Adama Makasuba
The Gambia Armed Forces High Command has sought clarification from Personnel Management Office over wrongful deduction of salaries of the soldiers.
“The GAF High Command invited officials of the PMO led by their Permanent Secretary to the Defence Headquarters, seeking clarification on the issue. During the frank and constructive discussion witnessed by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence, GAF Service Chiefs and Commanding Officers, amongst others, personnel of the PMO posited that in implementing the allowance reform system, some imputing errors were reported and these errors affected the GAF in general whose pay should legally draw inspiration from the Terms and Conditions of Service (TACOS Officers and Soldiers),” GAF said.
“The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) wishes to bring to the attention of the general public that the recent measures taken by the Personnel Management Office (PMO) to rationalize and standardize the allowance structure across the civil service has affected the GAF as well as other institutions, according to an explanation from the PMO. However, this exercise led to the deduction of the take home pay of the entire membership of the GAF,” the soldiers added.
GAF High Command assured soldiers that their pay and welfare is top most priority on the Chief of Defence Staff’s priority list.
Meanwhile, Personnel Management Office has apologized to Civil Servants whose allowances were deducted, adding this was due to some reform measures being taken to rationalize and standardize allowances across the Civil Service, adding the matter has been sorted out now.
“This Office wishes to bring to the attention of all concerned Institutions that due to some reform measures being taken to rationalize and standardize allowances across the Civil Service, some imputing errors have been reported, resulting in reduction in total earnings of some staff. This anomaly is being sorted in collaboration with affected cadres. We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused,” PMO said.
