Samoa’s Deputy Prime Minister Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo has confirmed that members of parliament have now received their salaries.
“Yes, the MPs have received their pay,” Toelupe told reporters.
Samoa Observer reports that this follows weeks of uncertainty after several MPs, including cabinet ministers, confirmed earlier this month that they had not yet been paid since taking the oath of office on September 16.
Faleata No. 3 MP Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi told the newspaper earlier that the delay affected all members of parliament and that they understood it was connected to wider payment disruptions across the public sector.
The Samoa Observer also reported on October 2 that public servants, including teachers and health workers, also experienced similar delays as the Ministry of Finance worked to process salaries under the new financial year.
At the time, MPs said that they were aware that the issue was “an administrative matter” and had been patient while awaiting clarification from government authorities.
The payment delay had sparked public discussion about the government’s handling of salaries and budget implementation.
In previous reports, the Ministry of Finance had cited technical and administrative adjustments as the cause of late payments affecting several government sectors.
The Deputy Prime Minister’s confirmation brings an end to the matter that has drawn attention in recent weeks, with MPs now confirmed to have received their salaries in full.
