Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The Minister of Finance, Sheku Fantamadi Bangura, has presented the 2026 National Budget to Parliament, outlining a comprehensive plan to strengthen public service delivery, expand employment opportunities, and enhance the welfare of government workers.
Presenting the budget, Minister Bangura said the 2026 fiscal framework is designed to boost domestic revenue mobilisation through pro-poor and pro-business tax measures, supported by innovative strategies to broaden the revenue base. He noted that the budget aims to preserve macroeconomic stability by maintaining single-digit inflation, stabilising the exchange rate, and reducing debt vulnerabilities. He added that the framework also seeks to improve the business environment, increase food production, enhance food security, create jobs, and raise incomes for rural households.
A key highlight of the 2026 budget is the significant increase in the public sector wage bill, projected at NLe 7.9 billion. This allocation will support the recruitment of thousands of new public sector workers and deliver a major salary uplift for existing civil servants. In the education sector, the government plans to recruit 2,500 new teachers and reassess and promote an additional 2,000 teachers starting September 2026. Tertiary institutions will also benefit from the recruitment of 400 new staff across universities, colleges, and technical institutes, along with the harmonisation of salaries for senior university leaders, including Vice-Chancellors and Principals, effective April 2026.
The health sector is set for reinforcement through the rollout of a previously approved recruitment plan for 3,000 health workers beginning July 2026. To further enhance morale and retention across the public service, the budget includes a 20 percent salary increase for existing civil servants, effective September 2026. Additionally, 700 new civil servants and 22 core staff for local councils will be recruited starting July 2026. Key governance bodies such as the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Audit Service, and the Electoral Commission will also benefit from payroll adjustments to strengthen their operational capacity.
These extensive recruitment and salary enhancement measures reflect the commitment of His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio to building a stronger and more efficient public sector. The government says that by investing in the national workforce, it aims to drive long-term development and improve service delivery across Sierra Leone.
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