Hon. Seedy Keita, The Minister Of Finance and Economic Affairs
By Ramatoulie Jawo
The Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Hon. Seedy Keita, informed parliament on Friday that the total government expenditure for 2025 is projected at D47.4 billion. This marks a 21% increase from the 2024 budget.
Presenting the Government Appropriation Bill 2025 for parliamentary consideration, Hon. Keita detailed the allocation breakdown: recurrent expenditure is estimated at D31.2 billion, while D16.2 billion is earmarked for capital investments and net lending. Notably, Personnel Emoluments, goods and services, subsidies and transfers, and capital expenditures are expected to rise by 20%, 2%, 31%, and 35%, respectively.
“In line with the envisaged resource envelope, the 2025 total Government expenditure is projected at D47.4 billion representing an increment of 21 percent from the 2024 budget of the total expenditure D31.2 billion will be recurrent and D16.2 billion will be capital and net lending Personnel Emoluments use of goods and services, subsidies and transfers and Capital are expected to increase by 20% 2%, 31% and 35% respectively,” he reported.
He highlighted that the projected rise in Personnel Emolument expenditures from the approved D7.4 billion for 2024 to D8.8 billion in 2025 is primarily driven by a D1.4 billion impact stemming from the proposed salary increases and adjustments to transport and housing allowances.
He elaborated that the personnel emoluments increase is attributed to an average 30% salary hike for core civil service employees. Additionally, transport allowances will be raised from D1,500 to D3,000, while housing allowances will increase from D1,700 to D3,500.
He noted that these allowance adjustments will apply to grades 1–8 under the civil service’s integrated pay scale. To accommodate these changes, the government has introduced a revised integrated pay scale.
“This 2025 salary increment will make a total salary increase of 60% from 2022 to 2025. And it will bring the total salary increase to 110% under the leadership of H.E. President Adama Barrow this is a manifestation that the budget allocation of the government is people-centric with the aim of improving the lives and livelihoods of Gambians. Another significant allocation is D1 billion to the energy sector to ensure reliable supply of electricity,” he said.
He highlighted that debt servicing continues to claim the largest share of the budget. For 2025, D11 billion—representing 23% of the total budget—has been allocated to debt servicing. This increase is attributed to the resumption of payments following the debt deferral initiative.
Hon. Keita also pointed out that the projected rise in expenditure on goods and services, from D9.79 billion in 2024 to D9.98 billion in 2025, is primarily driven by OIC-related spending. This excludes costs associated with vehicles, travel, rents, rates, and training.
“Meanwhile, Subsidies and Transfers, which are mainly Subventions, are projected to increase from D4.94 billion in 2024 to D6.47 billion in 2025, representing an improvement of 31 percent. This increase is mainly because of the Energy Subsidy under the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, which is expected to cater for tariff compensations to NAWEC,” he said.