Ben Otim Ogwete, the Lira Chief Administrative Officer attributed the challenge to delays from the Ministry, saying the District has resources and is ready to recruit staff but they have not received given a green light to proceed.
Lira District local government is stuck with Shillings 4 billion meant
for the recruitment of staff, especially in the health department. The money, which was disbursed to the district at the
beginning of this Financial year, is laying redundant in the district’s account
pending approval of the staff recruitment by the Public Service Commission for vacant posts.
For the last seven years, the district has been
conducting recruitment for health workers on a replacement basis whereas, in other
departments, technical workers are working without assistants while others especially
those in the newly created sub-counties such as Ayami, Itek, and Awiodyek are in
acting positions.
Ben Otim Ogwete, the Lira Chief Administrative Officer attributed the challenge to delays from the Ministry, saying the District has
resources and is ready to recruit staff but they have not received given a green
light to proceed. He is worried that with the financial year nearing an
end, the district might be forced to return the money back to the treasury.
//Cue in: “We had budgeted…
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Dr. Patrick Buchan Ocen, the Lira District
Health Officer explained that despite having some unfilled positions such as
security
officers, and porters, almost all health facilities now have critical cadres like
midwives, medical doctors, and clinical officers who are forced to work without
support.
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Dr. Ocen is worried that with the plan to have nursing
assistants phased out, more gaps will be created.
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Okello Orik, the Lira District Chairperson, says the
district has waited for this long to advertise because it does not want to
conflict with the law.
//Cue: “I find it…
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Currently, Lira District has achieved about 86% of its staffing level.
