The Democratic Republic of Congo has ordered an audit of the civil service payroll, according to the minutes of a Council of Ministers meeting held on Feb. 20, 2026.

The government said the audit is intended to safeguard public finances and ensure it can continue funding its priorities, including the regular and timely payment of salaries. The aim is to secure long-term payroll stability and prevent delays that could undermine social stability.

A Rapidly Expanding Wage Bill

The public wage bill has risen sharply in recent years. In a January 2026 report, the International Monetary Fund said salaries for military and police personnel were doubled at the start of 2025, alongside the recruitment of new security forces. Additional spending pressures came from the education and health sectors, as well as the hiring of 2,500 magistrates later in the year.

As a result, the wage bill is estimated to have exceeded its budgeted level by around 19% in 2025. Between 2021 and 2025, it more than doubled in nominal terms and rose 46% in real terms, now accounting for more than 50% of tax revenues.

To curb the increase, the Ministry of Public Service said in August 2025 it was preparing a biometric registration of employees under the central government’s supplementary budget, aimed at tightening control over staffing levels and payroll costs.

On Dec. 18, 2025, Public Service Minister Jean-Pierre Lihau announced the retirement of 2,000 eligible employees. He said that from January 2026, at least 30,000 employees would be retired each year.

Wage Bill Targets and Pay Reform

In the original 2025 budget, the government allocated $3.4 billion for salaries. Following the doubling of military and police pay, the wage bill is now expected to reach $4 billion, equivalent to 23.3% of total expenditure and 4.8% of GDP. The government aims to keep the wage bill below 5% of GDP over the medium term.

To support that target, it announced plans in December 2025 to adopt a new pay policy, developed in consultation with unions, to improve equity and efficiency in public sector remuneration, reduce unjustified disparities and limit hiring to essential positions.

The minutes of the Feb. 20 meeting state that the payroll audit is part of a broader effort to strengthen fiscal consolidation and budget discipline, rather than a short-term response.

The Prime Minister will coordinate the audit, with support from the General Inspectorate of Finance and other oversight bodies. The Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the Budget will ensure staffing levels on the payroll match those approved in the budget. Results are expected within 30 days.

Boaz Kabeya