By Dadson A. Musa
As the year draws to a close, the minister of finance will once again present the national budget to Parliament outlining the country’s achievements, challenges, spending priorities, and economic projections. Some years, the budget offers hope; other years, it presents harsh realities. But regardless of its tone, the national budget remains the most important financial blueprint for how Sierra Leone allocates scarce resources.
Budget allocations to ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) are often determined by national priorities, political considerations, and sometimes conditions attached to donor funds. Although the process begins months before its presentation supposedly to ensure broad stakeholder input the final product is still subject to debate and amendments before being passed by Parliament and signed into law by the president.
Sierra Leone continues to grapple with weak revenue generation, significant leakages in tax collection, and increasing financial burdens as new offices and jobs are created, donor fatigue and stringent conditionalities tied to grants and loans worsen the situation, even when funds are allocated to MDAs, they often arrive late or not at all forcing institutions to rely heavily on donors.
Poor auditing practices and persistent corruption mean that these resources frequently benefit only a privileged few, while the majority remain impoverished, a striking example is the country’s continued heavy payments to foreign energy companies such as Karpowership, despite decades of investment in Bumbuna, these realities contribute to persistent budget deficits and deepen economic inequality.
Poverty in Sierra Leone is acute and worsening, the wealthiest citizens continue to accumulate more resources while the poor struggle for survival, contrary to popular belief, the primary tension in Sierra Leone is not tribal it is economic, the country has a weak and extremely limited middle class, wealth, opportunities, and access to resources remain concentrated among those in political authority.
A strong middle class is essential for national stability, without it, social discontent grows, inequalities widen, and national cohesion weakens, empowering the middle class must therefore be a priority in this year’s budget, Broadening opportunities, supporting local businesses, creating decent jobs, and strengthening citizens’ economic participation are necessary steps to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.
Another central priority should be improving the country’s approach to old-age security, current social safety nets particularly NACSA’s handouts are not sustainable solutions. Sierra Leone must reform and strengthen the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) to ensure it truly meets the needs of retirees.
Encouraging more people to work, build businesses, and contribute to social security throughout their productive years is crucial, investments made by NASSIT must yield tangible returns that benefit contributors and the wider economy, when citizens can rely on a decent and dignified life in old age, the burden on families is reduced, allowing them to focus on growth and productivity.
Hard economic conditions are pushing many Sierra Leoneans into early graves, robbing the nation of valuable human resources, a reliable pension and social support system will help preserve lives and reduce desperation.
A credible national budget should reflect the true state of the country not be tailored to impress international partners or driven by political motives, the people of Sierra Leone must be at the center of every decision, only a people-focused budget, free from partisan influence, can foster the equitable growth and long-term stability the country needs.
Strengthening the middle class and ensuring security in old age are not just economic priorities they are national imperatives. Sierra Leone’s growth and peace depend on them.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Friday, 28th November 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
