Budget Blueprint Faces Criticism

By John Kelly Marah

The Government of Sierra Leone has unveiled its 2025 Citizens Budget, outlining key spending priorities intended to drive sustainable development, improve public services, and address persistent socio-economic challenges. With a total expenditure plan of NLe 35.3 billion, the proposed budget has drawn both praise and criticism from citizens, policy analysts, and civil society groups.

Key Highlights of the 2025 Budget

Total Budget: NLe 35.3 billion

Projected Revenue: NLe 27.9 billion

Budget Deficit: NLe 7.5 billion (up significantly from NLe 2.6 billion in 2024)

Domestic Revenue: NLe 18.9 billion

External Grants: NLe 9.0 billion, mainly from the World Bank and the European Union

Health Sector: Mixed Reactions Over Progress and Gaps

Health received NLe 1.5 billion, accounting for 9% of the budget—an increase from 7% in 2024, but still below the 15% Abuja Declaration target.

Key initiatives include:

Expansion of Peripheral Health Units from 1,600 to 2,000

Construction of a National Cancer Diagnosis Center and regional hospitals

Reduction in maternal mortality to 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030

Halving infant mortality by 2030

10% reduction in out-of-pocket health expenses by 2030

Support for health workers:

Recruitment of 3,000 new health workers in July 2025

15% salary increase effective April 2025

Despite these gains, public health advocates argue that funding remains inadequate to meet the country’s growing healthcare demands.

Education Sector: Praise for Continued Commitment

The education sector secured NLe 3.4 billion, or 20% of the primary expenditure.

Planned interventions include:

Hiring 2,000 additional teachers by September 2025

A 15% pay raise for teachers

Sustained support for the Free Quality School Education (FQSE) programme

Expanded subsidies to ease parental financial burdens

Parents and educators welcomed the continued focus on free education but expressed concern about infrastructure gaps and overcrowded classrooms.

Energy Sector: Subsidies and Foreign Backing

Energy infrastructure saw mixed funding sources:

NLe 127.3 million from the domestic capital budget.

NLe 875 million in subsidies for EDSA to clear debts with Independent Power Producers.

NLe 1.4 billion in international support from the World Bank, AfDB, and Indian EXIM Bank.

Despite the support, citizens in rural areas continue to experience frequent blackouts, prompting calls for greater rural electrification.

Agriculture: Underfunded but Critical

The agriculture sector was allocated NLe 1.3 billion, representing 8% of the budget. However, many believe this is insufficient to successfully implement the government’s ‘Feed Salone’ food security initiative.

Employment and Public Sector Reforms

The government announced a significant recruitment drive:

1,000 civil servants

500 tertiary education staff

600 military personnel

1,000 police recruits

1,000 for the Correctional Services

200 for the National Fire Force

Salary and pension adjustments include:

30% raise for civil servants in Grades 8–14

15% raise for security forces

25% increase in pensions, all effective April 2025

While welcomed by beneficiaries, questions remain about the sustainability of these increases amid a growing deficit. Water and Sanitation: Funding Falls Short With only NLe 118.8 million allocated, experts warn the sector remains underfunded, risking further strain on public health and access to basic amenities, especially in informal settlements. Public Concerns: Debt, Transparency, and Equity The budget has sparked public debate around several critical issues: Debt Servicing: Interest payments are projected at NLe 7.4 billion, a sharp rise from NLe 4.1 billion in 2024. Deficit Concerns: The growing fiscal deficit of NLe 7.5 billion has raised red flags among economists. Transparency and Accountability: Civil society groups are calling for stronger oversight mechanisms. Regional Inequality: Critics have highlighted perceived neglect of resource-rich regions like Tonkolili in budgetary allocations. The 2025 Citizens Budget signals the government’s intent to invest in human capital and infrastructure while promoting economic growth. However, citizens and watchdog groups stress the need for equitable resource distribution, transparent fund utilization, and robust implementation to ensure real impact. As budget debates continue, active citizen engagement and independent oversight are viewed as essential to holding the government accountable and achieving national development goals.