DOCUMENTS have revealed that taxpayers will foot around $1.7Million to a foreigner for 36 months in housing rental for the Prime Minister.
The Office of the Leader of Opposition have disclosed appalling details of a commercial lease agreement between the Government and a person by the name of Zhu Feng Wu, the owner of the residential property the Prime Minister is currently residing in at Tasahe.
According to the tenancy agreement, the period of tenancy shall be 36 months starting from the 1st August 2024 to 31stJuly 2027.
The rental payment per month is $48,900 and the source of payment will be as follows;
- National Parliament ($20,000)
- Office of the Prime Minister & Cabinet ($28,900)
Documents also disclosed payment of $147,000 will be done on quarterly basis by the National Parliament and OPMC, meaning Parliament will pay $60,000 and OPMC $86,700 quarterly.
The total rental cost for the 36 months is $1,760,400.
Leader of Opposition Hon Matthew Wale has called on the Prime Minister to explain why taxpayers are footing this bill to Mr Feng Wu when the Prime Minister himself has his own residence.
“It is understandable as it has been a practice that past Prime Ministers have resided at their own residence and paid $20,0000 in rental as per parliament regulations because there is still no official residence for the Prime Minister. I understand the current Prime Minister also has his own residence at Tasahe so why rent another property for 36 months for $1.7M at the expense of taxpayers,” Hon Wale questioned.
The Opposition Leader said the finance minister himself has admitted in Parliament that our current fiscal position is worrying, yet taxpayers are footing unnecessary expenses incurred by the Government.
Hon Wale said the Prime Minister owes an explanation to taxpayers of this country.
