Freetown: Public servants across Sierra Leone have renewed calls for the harmonisation of salaries as the Ministry of Public Administration and Political Affairs continues regional consultations on public service reforms.
According to Sierra Leone News Agency, the consultations, which began on Monday, 18 May 2026, at the Kenema District Council Hall, form part of a two-week nationwide stakeholder engagement scheduled to end in Port Loko City on 29 May 2026.
The exercise brings together representatives from government ministries, departments, and agencies, civil society organisations, the private sector, community leaders, persons with disabilities, and ordinary citizens to gather views on ongoing reforms within the public service.
During the consultations, many participants, particularly civil and public servants, raised concerns over salary disparities within the public sector. They noted that workers on the same grade level in different ministries, departments, and agencies often receive unequal pay despite having similar qualifications and years of service.
Participants argued that harmonising salaries across government institutions would promote fairness, boost morale, and improve efficiency in service delivery.
Workers in local councils also appealed to the government to align their salaries with those of their counterparts in ministries, departments, and agencies, saying equal pay for equivalent roles is essential to achieving true reform in the public service.
Responding to the concerns, the Director of the Public Service Reform Unit, Sulaiman Phoray Musa, acknowledged the issue and said it was one of the reasons President Julius Maada Bio established the Wages and Compensation Commission. He said the commission was created to examine salary disparities and support an effective harmonisation process for public servants across the country.
Musa added that the regional stakeholder engagements are intended to address key issues affecting the public service, including salary harmonisation.
Teachers also joined the call, saying many of them hold master’s degrees but still earn less than Grade Seven civil servants with similar academic qualifications. They urged the government to address the gap as part of the wider reform programme.
The Director of Public Administration, Momoh Conteh, said the consultations were designed to provide an inclusive platform for dialogue and feedback on major reform issues. He noted that the overall aim of the exercise is to transform Sierra Leone’s public service architecture.