The Country’s Chief Minister, David Moinina Sengeh, has informed the People’s Representatives in the Chamber of Parliament that, “The wage bill will continue to increase and will increase again on a yearly basis.”

“There has never been a single month since 2018 this government came to power that we have not been able to pay the wage bill despite the hue and cry over it that is bloated,” the Chief Minister asserted.

David Sengeh made the disclosure during the debate on the National Monitoring and Evaluation Agency Act, 2023 on Thursday 18th January 2024, when reacting to statements made by some opposition Members of Parliament regarding what they refer to as government’s bloated wage bill.

“Yes, the wage will increase this year because our government is going to employ more nurses, teachers and security forces who will protect our lives and properties,” he said.

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon Sengepoh Thomas, also reiterated that the country needs more teachers, doctors owing to the country’s growing population.

Some MPs of the opposition have argued, on the other hand that, the government’s bloated wage bill has affected the development projects because the authorities don’t  work sincerely to meet the needs of Sierra Leoneans and the country as a whole.

They said, all over the world, governments cannot employ everyone, but it needs not to expand the wage bill.

But the creation of more agencies, in Sierra leone’s situation, will further balloon up the wage bill which subsequently affects the country finances and its development strides.

MPs said creating more institutions is not necessary, adding that the creation of more institutions just  means a waste of tax payers monies.

“We have ACC, ASSL, NPPA, Parliament and the rest, why creating another National Monitoring and Evaluation Agency which has similar functions with the above sectors,” said opposition MPs.

The APC MP, Hon Mahmoud Kamara, said the National Monitoring and Evaluation Agency Act, 2023 is just a ‘Chap chap’(rogue money finding).

The Leader of Government Business, Hon Matthew Nyuma said, he would not be bordered by opposition concerns about the wage bill saying that is bloated. He said the SLPP government is responsible and has over the years has been paying workers monthly.

He guaranteed that the wage bill will continue to increase because more teachers, security staff and doctors will be recruited.

Hon Nyuma said one of SLPP’s government challenges, is to fight to achieve a harmonization of public salaries.

He said some workers of the same qualifications are receiving more salaries than others.

The SLPP MP from Bo District, Hon Kekura Vandy, also stated that, in Bombali alone, they have recruited over 1,000 teachers; Western Rural over 200 teachers are being recruited since SLPP took over power,  a rise they have accounted for as compared to the former regime.

The MP also highlighted several lawful employments made by their regime which, he said,  is pointing to the strengthening of human capital development and the development of Sierra Leone.