Gamcel Employees: Salary Restored, But Bigger Issues Remain

Hon Lamin Jabbie, Minister for Communications and Digital Economy © The Gambia National Assembly

By Edward Francis Dalliah,

Appearing before lawmakers for the first time since his appointment as Minister for Communications and Digital Economy on Wednesday, 26th March 2025, newly appointed Minister Hon. Lamin Jabbie revealed that Gamcel staff are now receiving their salaries as usual.

Responding to a parliamentary question from Independent Member Hon. Omar Jammeh of Janjanbureh, Minister Jabbie stated:

“The petition and its basis were related to salary payments at that time. The issue concerned a one-month salary delay, which we have since addressed. Today, they are receiving their salaries as usual.”

However, a review of the petition submitted on 20th January 2025 reveals that the grievances of Gamcel employees extended beyond just salary delays. While outstanding salaries were indeed a central concern, the petition outlined a range of longstanding issues affecting employees. These included the deduction of credit union payments that have remained inaccessible for over two years, the absence of medical insurance for nearly three years, and deductions from staff salaries for income tax that do not appear to have been remitted.

Beyond financial concerns, the petition also highlighted poor sanitary conditions at cell sites, insufficient maintenance due to a lack of investment, and the challenges posed by unannounced outlet closures. Employees further called for improved communication from management and better sanitary provisions at sites with inadequate facilities.

Following the minister's remarks in Parliament, our reporter reached out to the concerned staff for clarification. In response, they expressed disagreement with the minister's statement, asserting that their petition addressed more than just salary delays. According to them, the petition outlined ten distinct issues, with the December 2024 salary delay being just one of them.

The petition, which was shared with several government institutions, including the National Assembly, the Office of the President, and the National Human Rights Commission, reveals that many of the concerns raised have persisted for over two years. While the issue of outstanding salaries has been resolved, the remaining nine grievances have yet to be fully addressed.

In light of Minister Jabbie’s assurance that salaries have now been normalised, questions remain as to whether the broader issues outlined in the petition will be properly addressed. Neither Gamcel management nor the ministry has made any public statement regarding the other demands raised by staff, leaving room for ongoing concerns and uncertainty.