The Ministry of Finance has on Wednesday June 23, 2020, said that Government of Sierra Leone has commenced payment of salaries to Mayors, Chairpersons and their Deputies and have also increased allowances of Councilors.
The Ministry said that the total remuneration for Mayors and Chairpersons has increased from Le 50.2 million per month to Le374 million per month or from Le 601.9 million per annum to Le 4.49 billion.
The Ministry also mentioned that monthly remuneration to deputy Mayors and Chairpersons has increased to Le264 million from Le 48 million or Le3.17 billion per annum from Le755 million.
The Ministry of finance in their statement said that the total monthly allowances to Councilors has also increased to Le 630 million from Le 420 million or from Le 5.04 billion to Le7.56 billion per annum.
According to the statement salaries of core staffs to councils has also been increased to Le 15.16 billon from 5.94 billion per annum in accordance with the pronouncement of the Minister of Finance.
The Finance Ministry revealed in their statement that they are in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, in finalizing necessary documentation for the payment of Salaries to Paramount Chiefs and other Chiefdom functionaries.
It could be recalled that since the re-introduction of the Decentralization Act in 2004, Chairmen and Mayors worked full time, but were only paid allowances with no salary and end of service benefit as compared to other public sector officials.
By George M.O. Williams
26/6/2020. ISSUE NO.: 7854