Africa-Press – Gambia. Journalist Yusef Taylor has raised concerns over newly approved salary adjustments for members of The Gambia’s National Assembly, arguing that the changes create inconsistencies in the country’s hierarchy of public officials. During a discussion on the weekly public affairs program, The Brunch, Taylor said the revised pay structure elevates the Speaker’s salary to the same level as that of the Vice President—the nation’s second-in-command.
According to Taylor, the Speaker’s basic salary will rise from D100,000 to D150,000, matching that of the Vice President. “This is not making sense because the vice president is second in command and the Speaker is third in command, so why are you second in command equal to the third in command?”
Taylor noted that the salary increases extend across the legislature, with all National Assembly Members receiving a 50 percent raise. But he argued that the new structure disrupts the broader salary hierarchy within government.
He pointed out that the Deputy Speaker, whose salary will rise from D70,000 to D105,000, will now earn more than the Chief Justice, who makes D78,000.
“You see, so then even the Speaker will now be well above the Chief Justice, and the Deputy Speaker will also be above the Chief Justice. The Chief Justice is on D78,000, which is close to what the ordinary National Assembly members will now earn,” he said.
Under the new adjustments, the basic salary for ordinary lawmakers will increase from D52,000 to D78,000, surpassing Cabinet ministers, whose salaries remain unchanged at D65,000.
The Majority Leader will see an increase from D58,000 to D87,000, while the Minority Leader will rise from D55,000 to D82,000.
Taylor said these changes create what he called “a leapfrogging effect,” with lawmakers overtaking ministers and other senior officials in pay. “They will now jump over ministers who remain constant at D65,000,” he said.
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