Wages and Compensation Commission Engages Public Institutions on Pay Reform
By: Sorie Sesay
The Wages and Compensation Commission has commenced a two-day national engagement on data collection for the harmonization and reform of public sector wages. The event, held at the Methodist Hall on Kingharman Road in Freetown, brought together representatives from various government ministries, departments, and agencies.
In his opening remarks, the Commission’s Chief Executive Officer, David W.S. Banya, said the engagement forms part of on-going efforts to address longstanding inefficiencies and inequities in Sierra Leone’s public service pay system.
Mr. Banya noted that prior to the establishment of the Commission, different government entities independently determined salaries, leading to major disparities across institutions. He said the Commission, created by an Act of Parliament in April 2023 and operational since January 2024, aims to promote fairness, merit-based rewards, and a unified pay structure in the public sector.
“These inconsistencies have weakened motivation and performance within the public service,” Banya said. “We are therefore calling on all institutions to cooperate fully with the Commission as we collect the necessary data to inform a fair and transparent wage policy.”
Delivering the keynote address, Hon. Alhaji Osman Timbo, Chairman of the Wages and Compensation Commission, described the initiative as a milestone in Sierra Leone’s broader public sector reform agenda.
He explained that the data collection exercise seeks to capture existing pay structures across public institutions to support the development of a comprehensive and equitable compensation framework.
“Our ultimate goal,” Hon. Timbo stated, “is to harmonize pay across institutions, reduce disparities among workers of similar grades, promote fiscal discipline, and build public trust through transparency.”
He emphasized that the reform process goes beyond numbers, focusing on establishing a reward system that values performance, ensures fairness, and contributes to national development.
The two-day engagement continues today with technical sessions on data submission requirements and discussions on aligning institutional pay structures with national standards.
