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By Sami Zaptia.
Tripoli, 12 July 2014:
The Libyan government is determined to go ahead with the pay rise it had decided upon for . . .[restrict]the Libyan judiciary despite the GNC’s 2014 budget prescribing that all pay rises in 2014 are suspended in view of the decreased oil revenues, shrinking reserves and spiraling deficit.
The government renewed its support to the judiciary in their efforts to carry out their duties without pressures in challenging times, and as part of its vision of the division of powers. The government has, therefore, decided to appeal to the newly elected House of Representatives to make an exception to the judiciary in the budget’s pay freeze.
The judiciary “are an independent judicial authority and the safety valve of the new Libyan State based on the rule of law and the administration of Justice”, the government said in its statement.
It will be recalled that the 2014 budget set out a number of reform measures aimed at reducing spending and controlling the growing deficit. However, the government, in its determination to activate the judiciary as part of efforts to impose law and order and security in post revolution Libya, had signaled its opposition to the wage freeze last week.
It will now have to await the convening of the newly elected House of Representatives in order to see if it will be granted its wish to improve the functioning of the judiciary through improving their pay. [/restrict]
