National Assembly Member for Foni Bintant Karanai Hon. Bakary Badjie criticized the 2027 budget on 14 October, citing insufficient provisions for civil service salary increases and the impact of rising national debt. Hon. Bakary Badjie stated, "In 2017, the debt of the country was at D47 billion. Today, the debt of the country is at D144 billion." The Gambia’s fiscal obligations remain high, with the lawmaker noting, "Most of our budget, we are having this year, D66 billion as a budget. And D16 billion out of that D66 billion, all is going into debt servicing." Regarding broader fiscal management, Hon. Bakary Badjie claimed, "Now, the reason as to why we are facing challenges in the health sector, in other sectors, is because some of the people, as I always say, are allergic to the truth."
Budget Allocations and Servicing
The 2027 national budget for The Gambia totals D66 billion. Within this fiscal framework, the government has designated D16 billion for debt servicing obligations. These funds represent a significant portion of the total expenditure, directly impacting the availability of resources for other government sectors. Lawmakers continue to monitor how these allocations affect the overall financial stability of the country.
Impact on Education Sector
Outstanding arrears currently owed by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education total nearly D1 billion. These financial obligations reflect the ongoing budgetary constraints affecting the education sector in The Gambia. Separately, the Ministry of Higher Education faces significant funding gaps regarding student support, with outstanding scholarship arrears amounting to about D180 million.
National Assembly Member for Foni Bintant Karanai Hon. Bakary Badjie noted that these fiscal pressures coincide with low compensation levels for the government workforce. During his remarks on 14 October, he addressed the remuneration of civil servants, stating, "Now, how much are we paying them? This is less than €200 per month, most of them. In fact, the average is less than €150 per month."
The lawmaker indicated that these salary figures represent the earnings for a large portion of the civil service. The reliance on limited funds for both operational arrears and public sector wages remains a central point of concern for parliamentary oversight.