Somalia’s Federal government has announced that a 25% reduction will be made in the government officials’ salaries following the cuts of foreign aid direct assistance.
Officials have been forced to seek ways to cut expenditures following a ministerial meeting held in Mogadishu to review the government’s budget of 2015.
State Minister of Finance Mr Mohamed Ali Nur said in an interview that the cuts will affect the President, Prime Minister, Parliament speaker, ministerial appointees, head of government agencies and government workers.
‘’We have not received any kind of money from our International donors in the past six months. The cabinet decided to take a 25% pay cut for the coming six months,’’ he said in an interview with the BBC Somali Service.
Mr Nur added that the reduction of wages will not affect the government soldiers.
Western governments have pledged billions to Somali government, but not as direct budget support. The government of President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud irritated many Western donors over the scandal triggered by the resignation of central bank governor Yussur Abrar, who said she quit after only seven weeks in the job due to pressure on her to sign suspicious deals.
Somali government was backed by the Western countries when it came to power in September 2012, but has become a source of grumbling for Somalis, as changes come in a very slow pace.
Horseed Media
Somalia: Government officials to take a 25% wage reduction following foreign aid cuts
Published: July 21, 2015
