• Parliament approves a CFA11.96 billion budget for the ministry, down 11% from 2025.

• The government maintains its administrative-modernization agenda despite reduced resources.

• Senegal adopts broader fiscal-discipline measures as revenue projections fall for 2026–2028.

Senegal is tightening public spending as the government cuts the 2026 budget of the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Public Service Reform in response to shrinking state revenues. The government nevertheless reaffirms its objectives to modernize the administration, promote decent work, and strengthen social protection.

The National Assembly validated the budget on Dec. 2 during a plenary session. Lawmakers approved CFA11.96 billion ($21.3 million) in commitment authorizations and CFA11.68 billion in payment credits. Minister of Public Service, Labour and Public Service Reform Olivier Boucal presented the plan.

The allocation falls by about CFA1.4 billion compared with 2025, representing a decline of nearly 11%. However, the ministry keeps its core structure focused on public-service modernization, administrative transformation, labour-market governance, worker social protection, and inter-ministerial coordination.

The official statement says the 2026 budget will “enable the MFPTRSP to contribute to the national agenda of systemic transformation ‘Vision Sénégal 2050,’ which reflects the ambition to build an efficient administration through the implementation of the National Agenda for Public Service Transformation, the promotion of decent work and the extension of social protection for workers.”

The budget direction aligns with a wider push to rationalize public expenditure. The Ministry of Finance’s 2026–2028 projections indicate lower resource forecasts and a stronger need for fiscal discipline. The measure affects several ministries and underscores the government’s strategy to contain the deficit.

This article was initially published in French by Félicien Houindo Lokossou

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum