In a bold move towards financial empowerment and public-sector reform, over 22,000 civil servants across Sierra Leone have united to establish the Republic of Sierra Leone Civil Service Cooperative Credit Union (CivSCCU), a transformative initiative under the leadership of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) and the Ministry of Public Administration and Political Affairs (MoPAPA).
Mr. David Augustine Ked Abu, Senior Planning Officer and Head of the Secretariat spearheading the establishment of CivSCCU, disclosed in an exclusive interview at his Tower Hill office in Freetown that the stakeholder engagement held 13th May 2025 marked a pivotal milestone in kick-starting the ongoing ministerial engagement carefully leading to the establishment of the first Republic of Sierra Civil Service Cooperative Credit Union.
He emphasized that this engagement represents a strategic step in mobilizing Civil Servants and institutional stakeholders, in alignment with the Government’s broader objective of enhancing financial inclusion and social protection under the Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024–2030).
The CivSCCU aims to leverage its nationwide membership of over 22,000 Civil Servants to mobilize resources, promote a savings culture, enhance access to finance, and improve financial literacy among public sector workers. The initiative is being led by MoPED and MoPAPA, with technical and institutional support from the National Cooperative Credit Union Association (NaCCUA), the Irish League of Credit Union Foundation (ILCUF) Limited, SEND Sierra Leone, DSIK, and other key development partners.
The CivSCCU Secretariat has so far engaged over 28 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), with overwhelmingly positive feedback. Based on the current trajectory and adherence to due process, member savings are expected to commence by August this year. Following a year of resource mobilization, potentially including strategic investment in Treasury Bearer Bonds during the first and second quarters, the Institution is projected to be well-positioned to initiate full operations.
The CivSCCU Board will comprise 13 members: 6 permanent members, including the Office of the Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service, the Human Resource Management Office, Ministry of Finance (Accountant General’s Department), Ministry of Trade and Industry (Department for Cooperatives), Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, and Ministry of Labour and Social Security; and 7 elected representatives from MDAs to be selected during the Annual Delegates Meeting (ADM).
The stakeholder engagement convened Ministers, Civil Servants, and Development Partners to deliberate on the strategic role of CivSCCU in advancing financial empowerment and supporting public sector reform. Key outcomes included a broad consensus to make membership a requirement for every permanent and pensionable Civil Servants, proposed technical revisions to the draft bylaws, and thematic recommendations on membership structure, financial product offerings, and governance and management mechanisms.
The Government of Sierra Leone, through the Minister of Public Administration and Political Affairs and the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, reaffirmed its commitment to finalizing the Union’s registration, piloting its operations, and sustaining inter-ministerial coordination, firmly positioning CivSCCU as a transformative vehicle for sustainable Civil Service reform.
According to Mr. David A.K. Abu, who is also Head of the CivSCCU Secretariat, the primary objective of the session was to solicit technical input, build consensus, and finalize institutional arrangements required to operationalize the CivSCCU, an initiative aligned with Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan (2024 – 2030). Furthermore, the engagement served as a platform to validate the proposed governance and Management structures, financial mechanisms, and membership models of the Civil Service Cooperative Credit Union while reinforcing the government’s commitment to financial inclusion, public-sector efficiency, and sustainable Civil-Service Reform.
He further enlightened that the initiative is pivotal in the nation’s collective journey toward financial empowerment for Civil Servants, noting that it also represents not merely a savings mechanism, but a bold step toward revitalizing the Civil Service, enhancing professionalism, and delivering improved results.
Mr. Abu went on to inform that the CivSCCU is a strategic tool within broader Civil Service reforms. He reaffirmed the commitment of the Human Resource Management Office (HRMO) to facilitate seamless payroll – deduction systems and stressed the importance of financial literacy and capacity building.
“The initiative serves both as a financial solution and a motivational tool to improve workforce morale, commitment, and productivity. Furthermore, the CivSCCU will be a legacy project under the President’s reform priorities. There is cabinet-level policy support that stresses the need for robust accountability mechanisms. The credit union is a tangible expression of the government’s commitment to the welfare of Civil Servants and the institutional strengthening of the public sector,” the Head of the CivSCCU Secretariat underscored.
The Irish Embassy in Sierra Leone, SEND-Sierra Leone, DSIK, and other donors have pledged financial and technical support to the scheme but emphasized the importance of transparency, member ownership, and democratic governance. The Department for Cooperatives at the Ministry of Trade and Industry has committed to fast-tracking the registration and proposed quarterly compliance audits to ensure transparency and alignment with both national regulations and global best practices, anchored in principles of accountability and member empowerment.
Mr. Abu articulated that Government has committed to maintain a transparent regulatory framework that welcomes private-sector participation while safeguarding members’ funds. He noted that the government will mobilize domestic and development-partner resources to capitalize mortgage and consumer credit windows institutionalize quarterly compliance audits, governance training, and South – South knowledge exchange with networks in Ireland and The Gambia.
Stakeholder engagements on the establishment of the CivSCCU have demonstrated strong institutional alignment, commitment, and a shared vision for empowering Sierra Leone’s Civil Servants through sustainable financial solutions. The sessions have confirmed agreement on key issues, including the need for mandatory membership for all Civil Servants, transparent governance structures, and integrated financial products aligned with national development goals.
MDAs have provided valuable insights that informed proposed adjustments to the draft bylaws, strengthened policy recommendations, and affirmed the relevance of CivSCCU within the broader public-sector reform agenda. With clear timelines for registration, piloting, and capacity building, the Government, through MoPED and MoPAPA, has committed to driving the process forward in partnership with relevant MDAs, development partners, and technical stakeholders.
CivSCCU is positioned not only as a financial institution but also as a transformational mechanism that will enhance service delivery, promote economic resilience among Civil Servants, and contribute meaningfully to the country’s long-term development trajectory.
