By Saio Marrah
The 2022 government budget has recorded an increase in the wages and salaries of government workers from Le3.75 in 2021 to Le3.90 trillion in 2022, an increase that represents 7 .7 percent of the GDP.
The projected increment in the wages and salaries according to the Finance Minister Dr. Dennis K. Vandi was as a result of the new recruitment of 1,200 teachers, 1000 health workers, 1000 police, 500 academic and administrative staff for tertiary educational institutions especially the newly established universities. 200 correctional officers and 85 fire fighters would also be in the recruitment to take place in 2022.
Speaking in Parliament, the Finance Minister said workers in the Polytechnics and Government Technical Institutes will also receive a further pay rise of 25 percent.
“This increase in the nominal wage bill reflects Government’s commitment to award a salary increase of 25 percent to all the security forces over a three-year period that started in 2021,” he said.
But a member of the Coalition for Change (C4C) party in Parliament, Sahr Charles, of Constituency 028, Kono district, told journalists after the budget reading that the creation of more jobs, offices and departments add burden on the economy.
The total budget is Le.9.94 trillion, with education still the government’s top priority getting Le. 1.7 trillion representing 22 percent of the budget. The health sector has the second largest share of the budget with a total of 896 Billion Leones allocated to that sector representing 11 percent.
The third largest share of the budget was allocated to the Defence Ministry with a total budget of 341 Billion Leones.
The budget is subject to approval by the lawmakers.
Copyright © Politico Online 24/11/21
