Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL) – In a series of confusing events, Gambian civil servants have been left frustrated by the government’s indecision regarding their allowances. The saga began in November 2023 when the cabinet approved an increase in transport and residential allowances for civil servants, without any request from the recipients.

A letter from the Personnel Management Office to the Ministry of Finance indicated that President Adama Barrow and his ministers had agreed to raise the Transport Allowance from D1,500 to D2,500 and the Residential Allowance from D1,700 to D3,000.

However, in a surprising turn of events, President Barrow and his ministers reversed their decision in January 2024, causing confusion and anger among civil servants. This flip-flop resulted in the cancellation of the allowance increments.

The judiciary was not spared from the fallout, as a memo from the judicial secretary instructed the financial controller to halt the additional D1000 increase to the House to Office (transport) allowance and to recover the four months’ worth of increased payments made to staff.

The news has sparked outrage among judiciary employees, with some questioning the rationale behind the sudden change.

The situation highlights the challenges faced by civil servants in The Gambia, who find themselves caught in the middle of government decisions that directly impact their livelihoods.