Freetown, 24th July 2025
The Wages and Compensation Commission (WCC) on Thursday, 24th July 2025, held a high-level dialogue meeting in its Conference Room, located at 19F Bath Street, Off Kingharman Road, Brookfields, Freetown. The meeting was convened in response to welfare concerns raised by the Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Association (SLMDA).
The session was graced by key stakeholders including representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Medical and Dental Council of Sierra Leone, the Sierra Leone Health Service Commission, Commissioners of the WCC, and the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security.
In his opening remarks, Mr. David W.S. Banya, Chief Executive Officer of the WCC, reminded medical practitioners and administrators of the Commission’s legal mandate to determine and harmonize salaries across the public sector. “The Commission is tasked not only with the responsibility to determine wages and compensation for public sector employees and harmonize the public sector pay system to reflect equity and merit; but also, with addressing all related matters through a transparent, evidence-based process,” he stated.
Hon. Alhaji Alpha Timbo, Chairman of the Commission, stressed the importance of due process in implementing reforms. “While the Commission is eager to move with speed, we are also guided by laws and regulations,” he noted. “The Commission must act carefully and responsibly in the discharge of its functions. Whatever we do must stand the test of time.”
Commissioner Max Conteh extended appreciation to the medical practitioners for their service and reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to addressing their concerns. “We value the role of doctors in nation-building and assure you that your voices are being heard,” he said.
Climaxing the event was a detailed presentation by Dr. Freddie Coker, President of the Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Association. He expressed the Association’s desire for a structured engagement with the Commission to improve doctors’ conditions of service. “Salary adjustments should not be reactive or based on industrial actions,” he stressed.
Dr. Coker outlined four key areas for the Commission’s consideration:
- Salary Harmonization and Adjustments
- Retirement Benefits
- Allowances and Loan Schemes
- Mechanisms That Guarantee Automatic Salary Increments
Following productive deliberations, the following steps were agreed upon:
- Submission of Comprehensive Data: The Ministry of Health will submit a detailed list of government-employed doctors with their grades and designations to support the Commission’s ongoing job evaluation and classification process.
- Formation of Technical Committees: Joint technical committees comprising representatives from WCC, SLMDA, the Ministry of Health, and other relevant bodies will be established.
- Engagement with Other Health Cadres: The WCC will continue stakeholder consultations by engaging other health professionals under the Ministry of Health to ensure inclusivity in the reform process.
The WCC reiterates its commitment to a fair, transparent, and sustainable compensation system that serves the interests of public servants and supports national development.
About the Wages and Compensation Commission
The Wages and Compensation Commission (WCC) is the Government of Sierra Leone’s central agency mandated to reform and regulate public sector compensation. The Commission works to ensure transparency, fairness, and equity in wages and benefits across all government ministries, departments, and agencies.
Media Contact:
Directorate of Communications and *Public Affairs
Wages and *Compensation Commission
Tel: +232 78 252024 / +232 88 252024
