BOSSASO, Somalia Feb 11 - Government employees in Somalia' s northern region of Puntland have been paid monthly wages after eight consecutive months of nonpayment, Radio Garowe reports.
Mr. Farah Ali Shire, Puntland's new minister of finance, spoke with Radio Garowe during a Wednesday interview in the port city of Bossaso, where he underlined the new administration's policy.
He indicated that all government ministries had paid their workers, except members of the security forces who are still being organized.
"That Puntland government workers receive their pay was the number one issue the administration of Abdirahman Mohamed Farole was elected," Puntland Finance Minister Ali Shire said.
Puntland's regional parliament passed a three-month temporary budget in late January, giving the Farole administration time to prepare an annual budget and present the Cabinet for full parliamentary ratification.
Located in northeastern Somalia, Puntland has had a funcitioning regional government since 1998. President Farole was elected in a peaceful parliamentary vote on Jan. 8, where he promised lawmakers and the public to bring change to Puntland.