The employees, who declined to be identified, said the ruling Covenant Party continues to hire its supporters while the rest of them face salary cuts.
The Department of Public Lands recently awarded a sole-source one-year contract worth $60,000 to former Workforce Investment Agency Executive Director Felix Nogis.
Nogis, who was convicted of federal theft charges, is a staunch supporter of the Covenant Party and is the chairman of its candidate for congressional delegate, Joseph N. Camacho.
Government workers said Nogis’ contract is unfair and questionable because his expertise doesn’t seem to match the land-related projects that he’s supposed to oversee for DPL.
They said the amount he will get is enough to pay three low-ranking government employees.
They also noted that DPL is paying Nogis more than what an entry level assistant attorney general gets.
His rate is also higher than a cabinet official whose salary cap is set at $50,000 a year.
“The administration is sending a message that it’s okay to commit a crime. You still have a future if you’re politically savvy,” a government employee said.
Another government worker said the administration’s style of bypassing career service employees at DPL in favor of political hires is sowing demoralization and discontent.
Rep. Trenton O’Conner, R-Tinian, said he sympathizes with the public sentiment, but he declined to comment “until I get the reasoning behind this — I don’t want to jump into conclusions.”
But he said there are questions that must be answered, particularly why Nogis was given a sole-source contract.
House Minority Leader Diego T. Benavente, R-Saipan, declined to comment on Nogis’ contract but he did question the administration’s hiring practices.
Today’s House session agenda includes notices for at least 15 government employment certifications.
“I am just concerned that this administration is pushing for the austerity yet continues to find money to hire more people. I realized that some of those positions are replacements but shouldn’t non-essential vacancies be left vacant?” Benavente asked.
