Africa-Press – Eswatini. Civil servants have been urged to rededicate themselves to delivering efficient and high-quality services to the nation, now that their salaries have been reviewed upwards.
This appeal was made by the Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg, on Wednesday, 29 October 2025, during a press briefing held at the Eswatini Revenue Service (ERS) Boardroom in Ezulwini. The briefing was convened to unpack the ERS Compliance Improvement Plan (CIP), which outlines the key compliance focus areas and measures aimed at improving taxpayer compliance. The Minister also highlighted key dates for the 2025 Income Tax Filing Season and emphasised the importance of maintaining transparency between government and taxpayers.
Rijkenberg called upon public servants to match their improved salaries with renewed commitment and dedication to service delivery, noting that citizens deserve value for the taxes they pay.
“Now that salaries have been reviewed, civil servants must work harder than ever to provide quality services,” said Rijkenberg. “Taxpayers must see and feel the value of their contributions. This will strengthen the social contract between government and the people — a relationship built on mutual trust, accountability, and service.”
He explained that the social contract represents an understanding where citizens contribute to the state through taxes, while government provides essential services such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure in return. For this system to thrive, he said, public servants must demonstrate diligence, integrity, and efficiency in their work.
The Minister acknowledged that in the past, many government employees had been under immense financial pressure due to the long delay in salary adjustments and, at times, the absence of Cost of Living Adjustments (CoLA).
Rijkenberg further highlighted government’s ongoing efforts to manage the public wage bill, which once stood at 42% of the national budget, making Eswatini the second highest in the region. Through fiscal discipline and structural reforms, the wage bill has since been reduced to 32%, though the recent salary review is expected to temporarily push it up to between 35% and 36%.
“Our long-term goal is to bring the wage bill down to 25%, but this will take time,” the Minister explained. “For now, we appeal to civil servants to justify the investment government has made in them by delivering exceptional public service.”
Rijkenberg concluded by emphasising that the nation’s progress depends not only on sound financial management but also on the hard work and integrity of those entrusted with serving the people.
For More News And Analysis About Eswatini Follow Africa-Press
