Effectiveness of pay and incentives on performance of heads of departments and units in local government authorities in Tanzania a case of singida municipal council

This study assessed the effectiveness of pay incentives on the performance of heads of departments and units in Local Government Authorities with special focus on Singida Municipal Council (SMC). To achieve the main objective, the study examined respondents’ perceptions on salary schemes, examined the effect of pay and incentive package, and assessed whether the differences in pay packages influenced the performance of heads of departments and units in SMC or not. Data collection methods included interviews, questionnaires, documentary reviews and focus group discussions. Statistical Packages for Social Scientists (SPSS) was used in the data analysis process. Further, the study established that there was a substantial pay disparity between heads of departments and units and other employees. The pay and incentive system has been effective in improving the performance of heads of department and units. However, the above has caused some problems. Such problems included different perceptions about the pay and incentive system between older and young public employees, some public employees left office for other activities such as farming, livestock keeping which sometimes affects work performance. The contradictions did not, however, hinder the performance of heads of departments and units in SMC. The study therefore suggests that, the government through the SMC should ensure that the pay and incentive policy covers the remaining cadres of the public servants in order to create avenues for sustainable improvements in the performance of heads of departments and units, and hence delivery of quality public services in LGAs. Also, SMC should stamp out long-rooted bureaucratic practices among heads of departments and units in handling people’s concerns and employees’ grievances.