The Bénin government has approved the financial and administrative regularization of 1,110 civil servants who were previously stuck at the 11th grade. This long-awaited decision brings immediate financial relief and includes retroactive salary payments to eligible employees.
After months of advocacy by public sector unions and workers, the move was officially endorsed during a Council of Ministers meeting chaired by President Romuald Wadagni. The decree authorizes the automatic advancement of these 1,110 government employees to the 12th grade, provided they meet the required seniority and merit criteria as of December 31, 2025.
Ending bureaucratic and financial bottlenecks
This breakthrough resolves prolonged delays linked to prior career reform rollouts. While legislative changes had already expanded the career progression framework within the Integrated Human Resources and Payroll Management System (SIGRHP), technical alignment for automatic grade advancement had stalled. By finalizing this decision, the executive safeguards the professional interests of affected civil servants while accelerating the modernization of state human resource management.
The decree goes beyond symbolic recognition—it mandates ministries to promptly update payroll systems. Employees will see immediate financial benefits, including the disbursement of outstanding salary arrears as part of this regularization.
A strategic move for social stability
This mass-grade advancement reflects the new administration’s commitment to easing social tensions early in its term. By reinforcing administrative discipline and equitable compensation, President Wadagni strengthens the morale and dedication of the civil service, which plays a pivotal role in ongoing national reforms.
