By Kadijatu Bangura, Daily Scope Reporter
The Cabinet has officially endorsed the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget and accompanying Finance Bill, paving the way for submission to Parliament. The approval was announced during a special meeting chaired by President Julius Maada Bio.
Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh highlighted that the budget focuses on strategic investments designed to alleviate household poverty and stimulate economic growth. This endorsement comes after extensive negotiations between the Ministry of Finance and various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
This year’s budget adopts a dual approach: enhancing domestic revenue collection and channeling these funds towards vital investments in human capital and national infrastructure. “The Finance Bill is essential for boosting revenue mobilization through improved tax administration,” stated the Vice President. The 2026 Appropriation Bill will prioritize health system enhancements and educational improvements across the country.
Significant allocations have been earmarked for national priorities, including food security initiatives under the Feed Salone program, increased energy access, and advances in digitalization. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to reduce poverty and foster economic development.
The budget preparation process commenced in September, culminating in a comprehensive plan that incorporates many ambitious funding requests aligned with the government’s “Big Five Game Changers” and the National Development Plan. Notable sectoral requests in the final budget include:
- Energy: NLe 951.7 million to bolster the national grid and extend electrification.
- Security: Over NLe 576 million requested by the Sierra Leone Police, Ministry of Defence, and Correctional Service for personnel recruitment and operational improvements.
- Agriculture: NLe 115.5 million allocated for the Feed Salone initiative to enhance rice production and achieve food self-sufficiency.
- Education: A substantial NLe 1.4 billion request from the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education for school feeding programs, learning materials, and connectivity for schools.
- Infrastructure: NLe 160 million allocated for significant projects, such as the Kabala–Falaba and Kambia–Kamakwie roads.
The Vice President also emphasized that the final Finance Bill includes specific parameters for improved expenditure management, aiming to establish a sustainable domestic finance framework that can secure additional funding from development partners and the private sector.
With Cabinet approval now secured, the focus shifts to Parliament, where the proposed FY2026 budget will undergo scrutiny and debate in the upcoming weeks.
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