Budget hearings for the 2026 fiscal year continued at the Ministry of Finance last week, with the Sierra Leone Correctional Service (SLCS), the Ministry of Defence and the Sierra Leone Police presenting their respective proposals. Each institution highlighted critical interventions aimed at strengthening national security and building people-centred forces.
Commissioner Joseph John Senessie of the Sierra Leone Correctional Service underscored key priorities, including the recruitment of 1,000 correctional officers and the construction of new correctional centres in Kamakwie and Mongo Bendugu. He noted the completion of the administrative building at New England and plans for additional expansion blocks at the Moyamba Correctional Centre.
He also revealed that SLCS intends to build new accommodation facilities for officers, acquire industrial equipment to facilitate mass food production for inmates and introduce an integrated prison management system to boost efficiency and accountability. The Commissioner stressed that those initiatives will enhance security, broaden rehabilitation programs and generate additional revenue for the Government. For those interventions, the SLCS requested an indicative budget of NLe179, 965,500 for Fiscal Year 2026.
Lieutenant-General Amara I. Bangura, Chief of Defence Staff, outlined the Ministry of Defence’s mandate to protect Sierra Leone’s territorial integrity and ensure the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) remains professional, disciplined and combat-ready. He disclosed plans to recruit and train 1,500 personnel while advancing technological upgrades, including computer communication systems, command modules, drones and ISTAR capabilities, to enhance operational awareness.
The Chief of Defence Staff also emphasized the importance of improving infrastructure, noting ongoing refurbishments of four barracks and other military facilities. He highlighted that better accommodations would improve morale and reduce medical costs for personnel. The Ministry of Defence and RSLAF submitted a budget estimate of NLe412, 000 for FY2026.
On behalf of the Sierra Leone Police, Assistant Commissioner of Police Allieu Turay presented a proposal that prioritizes the recruitment of 1,000 new officers and the modernization of the Police Garment Factory. The plans also include the procurement of operational uniforms, as well as upgrades to Police Headquarters and other key facilities nationwide.
He emphasized that the Sierra Leone Police is committed to enhancing operational capacity, improving service delivery and maintaining professionalism and accountability in safeguarding citizens. The institution’s budget proposal totals NLe576, 534.3, with recurrent expenditure projected at NLe364, 584.7 and revenue projections of NLe2, 943,755 for 2026.
The budget submissions by the SLCS, Ministry of Defence and Sierra Leone Police underscore Government’s continued prioritization of national security, institutional reforms and improved service delivery as critical pillars for stability and development in Sierra Leone.
