Finance Minister Neal Rijkenberg has urged civil servants to improve service delivery as government prepares to pay the long-awaited 85% salary backpay on Monday.
Speaking during the latest Finance in Focus programme, Rijkenberg said all indications were that payments would be made without any disruptions. “The money is there and the money should flow,” he said.
The minister said while civil servants deserved the payment, they should also remember that their salaries were funded by taxpayers and that government existed to serve the nation. He said taxes collected enabled government to establish institutions responsible for delivering services back to the public.
According to Rijkenberg, the payment should not only be viewed as a financial benefit, but also as a reminder of the responsibility carried by public servants. He said those receiving the money should appreciate the citizens whose contributions made their employment possible and recommit themselves to providing quality public services.
Rijkenberg singled out teachers, nurses and other frontline workers, saying they played a critical role in ensuring that citizens received efficient services from government. He said public servants should constantly remember that they had been entrusted with serving the nation and that excellence in service delivery should remain their priority.
“If we can do our best to up our game and not only receive the money and be happy for that but also appreciate the nation that gives it to us as civil servants,” he said.
He added that public servants should continually remind themselves of who they served and strive to perform their duties with excellence. Thousands of civil servants are expected to receive the 85% salary backpay on Monday following government’s implementation of the salary review.
