Government Plans Le 35.8 billion Expenditure for 2025.
By: Edward Dictionary Caulker
The Ministry of Finance has announced Sierra Leone’s budget plan for 2025, projecting total expenditures and borrowing to reach SLe 35.8 billion. This is a significant increase from the estimated SLe 27.3 billion expenditure in 2024, underscoring the government’s dedication to driving national development.
According to the Budget Call Circular, the expenditures include SLe 4.8 billion for Goods and Services and SLe 3.3 billion for Subsidies and Transfers. These funds will support key national objectives outlined in the Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024-2030) and the Big 5 Game Changers initiative.
For fiscal year 2025, major fiscal allocations include Domestic Capital Expenditure estimated at SLe 945 million, which is 0.4 percent of GDP. This is a decrease from SLe 2.6 billion or 1.4 percent of GDP in 2024. The budget draws from a projected resource envelope that includes domestic revenue, budget support grants, domestic borrowing, and SDR resources.
Revenue projections indicate that total Revenue and Grants will reach SLe 29.5 billion, accounting for 13.4 percent of GDP. Domestic Revenue is expected to be SLe 19.0 billion (8.7 percent of GDP), up from SLe 14.6 billion (7.8 percent of GDP) in 2024. Grants are anticipated to be SLe 10.5 billion (4.8 percent of GDP), an increase from SLe 8.05 billion (4.3 percent of GDP) in the previous year.
The 2025 budget process has begun, with ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) required to align their estimates with the set guidelines and fiscal ceilings for Goods and Services, Subsidies and Transfers, and Domestic Capital Expenditure. This structured approach aims to ensure efficient resource allocation and maintain fiscal discipline to support national development goals.
The government’s budget priorities for FY2025 are aligned with the national goals outlined in the Medium-Term National Development Plan. These priorities include ensuring food security, fostering a skilled and inclusive labor force, creating youth employment opportunities, advancing towards a cashless economy, and enhancing public service effectiveness.
