In a decisive move to restore confidence among Benin’s civil servants, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, led by Romuald Wadagni, has initiated a sweeping campaign to clear long-standing promotion delays and unpaid salary arrears. This bold step underscores the government’s commitment to improving the welfare of public sector workers.
A landmark announcement came on June 5, 2026, when Léa Estelle Honfo Akpovo, Deputy Secretary-General of the Ministry of Finance, issued a directive launching a nationwide operation to resolve all promotion backlogs in the civil service. The campaign, running throughout June 2026, targets promotions that should have taken effect no later than December 31, 2026, and in previous years.
Why this initiative matters to Benin’s civil servants
The initiative spearheaded by Romuald Wadagni is set to address two critical issues for public sector employees:
- Career progression updates: All pending promotion files will be processed, ensuring every civil servant receives the rank or grade they are entitled to.
- Payment of outstanding dues: Salary increases and retroactive payments tied to these promotions will be disbursed to eligible staff.
The government is leveraging cutting-edge technology to ensure efficiency and fairness. A newly implemented system, the Integrated Human Resources and Payroll Management System (Sigrhp), streamlines file handling, accelerating processing while maintaining transparency.
Urgent action required from ministries
To expedite the process, authorities have instructed all ministries and public institutions to compile and submit their employees’ promotion files without delay. Specifically, they must send lists of staff eligible for promotions (for 2026 and prior years) to the Directorate-General of the Civil Service immediately.
This proactive approach reflects the government’s resolve to resolve long-standing issues once and for all, ensuring public servants receive their rightful recognition and compensation without further delay.
