Tony Mwaba: "EPST has already started paying the Equity bonus, the file is with Finance and Budget".

The payroll process for the "Equity" management bonus paid to staff in the central services of the Ministry of Primary, Secondary, and Technical Education (EPST) has been stalled at the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Budget. EPST Minister Tony Mwaba, who addressed the issue during a radio broadcast on Thursday, March 7, reassured the staff and managers of his ministry of his commitment to continue monitoring the progress of this process so that the months’ pay that have recently been committed can finally be paid. “Not long ago, it was said that the payroll management bonus had been embezzled—it’s too easy to use the word ‘embezzle.’ The payroll management bonus was paid for only two months, and for the remaining months we have committed funds; there are issues at the Budget and Finance levels, and we are currently monitoring the situation. This is not within our purview; it is a matter between Budget and Finance. We are monitoring the situation,” he stated. It should be noted that the payment arrears of over a year for this bonus have recently led to several protests at the EPST. Ivan Honoré Mudiangombé