Around 70% of the MPs caught appointing family members as staff
About 70 percent of parliamentarians have appointed their wives, sons and close family members to their staff, according to parliamentary sources.
Each Member of Parliament has been given the opportunity to recruit six officers and employees for his/her staff, and the government pays between Rs.35,000-40,000 per month.
The staff of a Member of Parliament consists of a private secretary, a survey officer, two drivers, a logger and an office assistant.
According to parliament sources, most of the MPs have appointed their wives as their private secretaries with the aim of retaining the salary within the family.
The staff members are appointed by the Parliamentary Affairs Division under the Ministry of Public Service, Provincial Councils and Local Government on the recommendation of the relevant Member of Parliament.
Meanwhile, the sources further said that there is an opportunity to appoint twelve officers and employees to the staff of a minister.