By Mabinty M. Kamara
The Government of Sierra Leone has announced a 150% increase in the remuneration of local authorities such as Paramount Chiefs, Regent Chiefs, Chiefdom Speakers and other chiefdom functionaries, as well as Western Area Tribal Headmen.
The increment, according to a press statement from the Ministry of Finance, takes effect from April this year. It said the move was in line with the government’s strategy to improve on chiefdom governance and strengthen chiefdom councils.
“These policy actions are consistent with the government’s strategy to improve chiefdom governance and strengthen chiefdom councils. Finally, these actions are expected to boost the morale of chiefdom council functionaries and positively impact on service delivery at all level,” the statement reads.
The statement further notes that the implementation of the policy to other chiefdom functionaries such as the Central Chiefdom Admin Clerks, Chiefdom Admin Clerks, Chiefdom Police Inspectors, Sergeants, Corporals and Police Constables is subject to a Chiefdom Councils Staff Audit and Biometric verification, which will be conducted by the National Civil Registration Commission (NACRA).
According to the Finance Ministry, total remuneration for Paramount Chiefs/Regent Chiefs has increased from Le 1.1 billion per quarter to Le 2.94 billion per quarter or from Le 4.4 billion per annum to Le 11.8 billion per annum.
Quarterly remuneration for Chiefdom Speakers has also increased from Le798 million per quarter to Le 1.7 billion per quarter or from Le 3.2 billion per annum to Le 6.8 billion annum. Total quarterly remuneration for Western Area Tribal Headmen has increased from Le 6.72 million per quarter to Le 48 million or from Le 26.88 million per annum to Le 192 million per annum.
The statement further revealed that the Government has paid the sum of Le 4,612,500,000 to all Paramount Chiefs, Regent Chiefs, Chiefdom Speakers, and Western Area Tribal Headmen as remuneration for the second quarter: April, May, and June of the 2020 Financial Year.
The government has recently announced similar increase in remuneration for Mayors/Chairmen of Local Councils as well as core staff of local councils.
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