Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The Wages and Compensation Commission of Sierra Leone has revealed that it is examining the possibility of implementing a wage freeze for certain categories of public sector employees in 2026.
The proposal comes as part of broader efforts to address structural disparities within the national pay system and assess whether current remuneration levels align with the country’s economic realities.
Commission Chairman, Alpha Osman Timbo, disclosed the ongoing review during a recent media engagement, noting that some employees in the public sector currently earn salaries that may not be financially sustainable for the state. “In 2026, what we are looking at as a Commission is to make sure there is a wage freeze for certain categories of employees,” Mr. Timbo explained. “We think that what they are earning now is more than enough when you take into consideration the prevailing financial situation of the country.”He emphasized the existence of notable imbalances within the wage structure, describing it as unusual that “thousands of people earn more than the President.” Such disparities, he said, undermine efforts to establish a fair and harmonized public sector compensation system.
Mr. Timbo also noted that although salaries are intended to be comprehensive and inclusive of all entitlements, discrepancies continue to emerge due to the distribution of additional benefits such as government-issued vehicles and fuel allocations.
The Commission is currently working in close partnership with the Ministry of Finance, which is preparing the 2026 Statement of Economic and Financial Policies for presentation to Parliament. According to Mr. Timbo, “As the Wages and Compensation Commission, we effectively collaborate with the Ministry of Finance to ensure we execute the task given to us examining wages, identifying structural disparities, and initiating the harmonization process.”
He clarified that immediate salary reductions are not the Commission’s primary consideration but noted that such measures could be evaluated if necessary to support fiscal stability. For now, the main focus remains on freezing wages for specific high-earning groups within the public workforce. As the government continues consultations leading up to the 2026 policy review, further details on the proposed wage freeze and broader compensation reforms are expected in the coming months.
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