We discovered that senior finance officials continue to earn gross monthly salaries ranging from over Le100 million (US$10,000) to Le65 million (US$6,500) and Le43 million (US$4,300) respectively, while the bulk of the public financial management (PFM) staff continue to earn lower salaries ranging from Le14 million (US$1400), to Le2.9 million (US$290), and a little over Le731,000 (US$73) monthly. The result is an ever-widening payroll gap between political appointees and other civil servants. Meanwhile, regular civil service employees continue to earn lower wages despite a new internal policy on promotion and salary equity approved on 1 st October, 2020. These rewards for party members, friends, and loyal supporters include promotions, higher salaries, and added allowances. New payroll documents and official correspondences of the government of Sierra Leone obtained by the Africanist Press reveal shocking evidence of how the Maada Bio administration has expanded the payroll to reward leading members and key supporters of the governing Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP).
