The new Members’ Emoluments (Amendment) Bill 2004 approved by the National Assembly on Tuesday March 9, will give the top posts in the legislature equal status.

Following the bill's enactment, the Speaker, Leader of the Opposition and Leader of Government Business will enjoy the same emoluments and benefits.

With the approval of the bill, the post Leader of Government Business, which has existed as a custom since the first National Assembly in 1993, will receive the recognition it deserves.

The Leader of Government Business is appointed by the President of the Republic to defend Government interest in the National Assembly just as the Leader of the Opposition defends those of the opposition.

The two leaders normally deliver the main address for their sides and lead debates on issues being discussed in the Assembly, but the law before the amendment gave importance only to the Leader of the Opposition.

Now the post of Leader of Government Business will become a full time job and its occupant will have the same time and privileges at the Assembly that the Leader of the Opposition has been enjoying to prepare and do Assembly work.

The bill does not contain provision for any increase in the salary of Members of the National Assembly.

The National Assembly secretariat said yesterday that the heading of our article on deliberations on the bill wrongly stated that there will be an increase in the salary of MNAs.

"There will be no increase in the salary of MNAs," it said, adding that the Leader of Government Business is a new post equal to those of Leader of the Opposition and Speaker.

"It is simply a question of putting posts of the same status on equal terms," it said.

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