By: The Fatu Network News Desk
Whilst Gambians continue to face rising living costs, with inflation still eating into salaries that have largely remained stagnant, lawmakers at the National Assembly are pushing for a further increase to their already substantial pay package.
According to figures reported by The Standard, the draft 2026 budget proposes raising the National Assembly’s total allocation from D422 million in 2025 to D569 million in 2026. It also proposes increasing the basic salary pool from D74.8 million to D115 million, in addition to existing allowances already funded by taxpayers.
But one National Assembly Member is saying no.
Bakary Badjie, the NAM for Foni Bintang and a presidential aspirant, rejected the proposal during the budget debate. As reported by The Standard, he told his colleagues, “I am not part of any salary increase for National Assembly Members. I will not be part of it today, tomorrow and forever. It is not justifiable with the current situation that we are facing as a nation.”
He also questioned why lawmakers would consider increasing their own salaries when, as he put it, the salaries of teachers, health care workers, security officers and agricultural officers “are not up to standard” and have not been addressed.
By: The Fatu Network News Desk Whilst Gambians continue to face rising living costs, with inflation still eating into salaries that have largely remained stagnant, lawmakers at the National Assembly are pushing for a further increase to their already substantial pay package. According to figures reported by The Standard, the draft 2026 budget proposes raising The Fatu Network
