MEMBERS of Parliament have asked the government to consider first teachers and medical personnel who have been volunteering at different areas for employment.
They stated that yesterday when debating the 2023/24 budget estimates for the Ministry of State, President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG) in Parliament.
Last week, the Minister of State PO-RALG, Angellah Kairuki announced the government had opened a window for applications for teachers and health workers for about 21,200 vacancies.
According to the minister, out of the announced new employment opportunities, 13,130 had been allocated for teachers, while the remaining 8,070 will be up for grabs by health workers.
In the House debating chamber yesterday, several MPs asked the PO-RALG in collaboration with the President’s Office, Public Service Management and Good Governance to consider first applicants who have for a long time been volunteering in both public schools and medical facilities.
Kiteto Member of Parliament, Edward Ole Lekaita (CCM) pushed for employment for Tanzanians, who had dedicated their time to volunteer offering services to poor Tanzanians without being paid anything.
“In my constituency for example, there are many people who for a long time have been volunteering at different schools and medical facilities, therefore, I suggest that when employing new staff we should think of first considering these ones,” he noted.
According to him, there was also a need to include in the important requirements to be employed that volunteers would be mostly considered.
Magu lawmaker, Bonaventure Kiswaga (CCM) also made a similar call, adding that each district should be given the mandate to employ their people because officials were aware of those who were serious in the course of discharging their duties.
“It is real disappointing to see that Tanzanians are spending huge sums of money in obtaining education but when it comes to employment, they do not get considered. I think each district should be given powers to employ its own people,” he added.
Last Friday, Ms Kairuki tabled her office’s budget estimates with the proposed 2023/24 budget increasing by 3.4 per cent compared to the allocation made in the current fiscal year, with focus on driving people’s development and national wellbeing.
The minister asked the House to endorse a 9.1tri/- budget for her ministry for the coming financial year.
The Parliament had endorsed 8.8tri/- for the ministry’s 2022/23 budget, which is to say the next budget will see an increase of 0.3tri/-, if the MPs endorses the proposed budget today.
According to Ms Kairuki, the increase means that the development budget will be about 3.5tri/-, up from 3.3tri/- of the current budget.
On the other hand, the ministry plans to spend about 5.7tri/- for recurrent expenditure, increasing from 5.5tri/- allocated in the current financial year.