More than MVR 1 billion was spent on salaries, allowances and pensions last month, according to state financial figures.

The financial figures till October 16 were released yesterday after more than a month without disclosing the state's revenue and expenditure.

The expenditure on salaries and allowances stood at MVR 9.6 billion by September 18. This figure had increased by MVR 1.2 billion to MVR 10.8 billion by October 16.

• MVR 559.4 million on salaries
• MVR 476 million on allowances
• MVR 183.2 million on pensions, including benefits for people over 65 years

Compared to last year, MVR 312.9 million more on salaries, MVR 218.1 million more on allowances and MVR 108.9 million more on pensions were spent by October 16.

The government pledged to keep the number of political appointees below 700, but the official statistics show the number at 922.

But the opposition maintains the number of political appointees are well above 2000, including those at the President's Office and the official residences of the President and Vice President.