In a significant move for public sector workers, the Cameroonian government has announced a planned allocation of CFA1,590.6 billion for personnel expenses in the 2025 fiscal year. This represents an increase of over CFA100 billion compared to the 2024 budget, as outlined in the draft finance bill submitted to parliament on December 1, 2024.
Efforts to Streamline Public Sector Spending The government has been working to control the ballooning payroll costs through initiatives like the Physical Counting of State Personnel (Coppe) operation launched in 2018. This program aimed to eliminate fictitious or irregular employees from the state’s payroll.
- Results of the Coppe Operation:
- Approximately 10,000 fictitious employees removed from payroll records, saving CFA30 billion annually since 2019.
- Legal action led to the dismissal of 3,577 employees, with another 5,000 cases under review.
Despite these measures, the public sector payroll continues to rise due to various factors, including salary increases and efforts to address unresolved payments.
Drivers of the Payroll Increase Several key factors contribute to the increased personnel expenses for 2025:
- Salary Adjustments: Two consecutive 5% salary hikes for public sector workers in 2023 and 2024 to mitigate the impact of rising fuel prices on purchasing power.
- Teacher Protests and Unpaid Arrears:
- Teachers have protested over unpaid back wages, delayed promotions, and unresolved financial grievances since 2022.
- In 2024, over CFA164 billion of the CFA200 billion owed to teachers was paid, with the remaining CFA36 billion to be settled in 2025.
Government’s Commitment to Education Prime Minister Joseph Dion Nguté highlighted the government’s dedication to addressing the concerns of teachers and stabilizing the education system. The increased allocation for 2025 reflects ongoing efforts to resolve salary arrears and improve working conditions for public servants.
As the draft budget undergoes review in the National Assembly, the projected rise in payroll expenses underscores the government’s focus on balancing fiscal responsibility with the welfare of public sector employees.
