Claim: A popular Facebook user, Tunde Scott, alleged that Sierra Leone’s minimum wage was 20,000 (Old Leones) when Ex-President Ernest Bai Koroma took office.
Verdict: Misleading! Although former President Ernest Bai Koroma increased the minimum wage to Le 500,000 during his tenure, it’s not true that the minimum wage was Le 20,000 when he assumed office.
Full Text
During the administration of Ex-President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah (1996–2007), the country was emerging from civil war and grappling with economic reconstruction.
The most dramatic shift came under President Ernest Bai Koroma (2007–2018). In 2015, his government announced a sweeping increase, raising the minimum wage to Le 500,000 per month. This move extended coverage beyond public employees to include private sector workers, marking a turning point in Sierra Leone’s labour landscape.
However, a Facebook user, Tunde Scott, alleged that Sierra Leone’s minimum wage was Le 20,000 (Old Leones) when Ex-President Ernest Bai Koroma took office.
Although the claim has not been shared on other platforms, DUBAWA decided to fact-check it to prevent it from going viral.
Verification
DUBAWA conducted a Google keyword search and found no evidence supporting the claim. We also reviewed historical data to verify Tunde Scott’s claim. According to historical archives, the minimum wage was Le 21,000 (Old Leones) when Ernest Bai Koroma took office.
The minimum was approved by the well of parliament in 1997 under the Minimum Wage Act and was not amended until President Kabba’s regime expired in 2007.
In 2014, the government of former President Ernest Bai Koroma increased the minimum wage to Le 500,000 (old Leones).
Conclusion
DUBAWA’s investigation showed that the minimum was at Le 21,000 when President Ernest Bai Koroma assumed office.