In recent hours, publications have gone viral, generally from young people from the African Party of Senegal for Work, Ethics and Fraternity (Pastef) who congratulate coordinators of the Patriotic Youth of Senegal (JPS). For what reason? Indeed, it was for these active social networks to congratulate their comrades who had become project managers at the Presidency of the Republic. From several localities, notably in Fatick, Louga. Koumpentoum, Kebemer, Bambey, Goudiry, Saint-Louis, Koungheul, Foundiougne, Diourbel, Mbacké, among others, they come from.
Just a stone’s throw from the early legislative elections, what could be the impact of these appointments? Do they aim to remobilize troops at the base? Are they as useless as some may think?
In fact, there is a decree, a text which organizes and regulates these appointments of these mission managers. They have a role to play in a given structure. However, what can these young people who were recently appointed by the President of the Republic manage? Politically, they can obviously serve their entity. What about the budget intended for them in a context where we are talking about rationalizing expenses?
For the presidency, we learn that until the advent of former president Macky Sall, the amount intended for mission managers was 300,000 CFA francs. But in 2019, following the abolition of the post of Prime Minister, it increased. They believed that they were carrying out political missions. Additionally, some felt that they even needed to have a telephone to do their job better. What the then President had refused. But the latter will increase the amount to 500,000.
It should be noted that project managers do not have salaries, like those in the civil service. These are lump sum allowances that they receive at the end of the month. Moreover, in the ministries, they are present and obtained 150,000 francs per month, and at the prime minister’s office, with 300,000 francs. However, the President of the Republic may see the opportunity to reduce or increase these fixed compensations. But what about the rationalization of spending which was one of the campaign arguments of the current government?
When we talk about rationalization, we must reorganize the use of state resources. In fact, clearly, these appointments can be seen as a failure to rationalize spending. But we must put things into perspective, because all mission responsibilities are part of the instruments for carrying out State missions. It should certainly not be about the removal of working instruments, but about “the review of public spending and how they are used”.
