Samuel Kallon 
By Ragan M. Conteh
The Minister of Finance, Fatamadi Bangura, has told members in the house of parliament that the Government Wage Bill is projected to increase to NLe7.6 billion (3.9 percent of GDP) in 2025 from NLe6.5 billion (3.9 percent of GDP) in 2024.
The Minister made the submissions when delivering his budget speech in the Chamber of Parliament.
According to Minister Bangura, the increase in the nominal wage bill covers the following, Government’s commitment to a 45 percent increase in salaries for teachers starting from 2023. Teachers may receive the third and final tranche of 15 percent increase in January 2025.
Government would also recruit 2,000 additional teachers and would reassess and promote 3,043 teachers, effective September 2025.
He informed that the recruitment of 3,000 health workers effective July 2025 and a 15 percent salary increase for health workers effective April 2025.
Also a recruitment of additional 1,000 civil servants; award a 30 percent salary increase effective April 2025 for civil servants in Grades 8 to 14 who had not received any pay rise since 2018.
He further said that the recruitment of 500 staff by tertiary educational institutions effective September 2025 is as follow.
Universities – 300, Colleges -100 and Technical and Vocational Institutions -100 staff. He said, a 15 percent salary increase is awarded to staff of tertiary education institutions effective April 2025.
The Minister assured of recruitment of 600 military personnel effective July 2025.
He revealed that the military would be awarded a 15 percent salary increase effective April 2025.
In addition, he said, 500 military health workers would be recruited effective March 2025.
He opined that all military health workers would be awarded a 15 percent salary increase effective April 2025, as in the case of the other health workers.
He pointed out that recruitment of 1,000 new employees for the Sierra Leone Police effective July 2025, a 15 percent salary increase will be awarded to the Sierra Leone Police effective April 2025.
Minister Bangura stated that recruitment of 1,000 new employees by the Sierra Leone Correctional Services, effective July 2025, a15 percent salary increase would be awarded to the Sierra Leone Correctional Services effective April 2025.
He also mentioned the recruitment of 200 new employees by the National Fire Force effective July 2025 and a 15 percent salary increase would be awarded to the National Fire Force effective April 2025.
Bangura said a cost of living adjustment of 5 percent is made for Foreign Missions and for the Judiciary effective April 2025 and government pensioners would receive a 25 percent increase in their pensions effective April 2025.
This is limited to Government employees who retired before the establishment of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) and Political Pensioners.
The Minister said core staff of Local Councils are awarded a 30 percent salary increase effective April 2025; and a recruitment of consultants to 50 personnel in FY2025.
