In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), President Félix Tshisekedi has taken significant steps in response to an urgent alert from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding the country's ballooning wage bill. This wage bill now surpasses more than half of the state's total budget, raising concerns over financial sustainability. In a recent cabinet meeting, the president mandated an audit of the payroll management of state agents and civil servants to address these pressing financial challenges.

The primary objective of this audit is to secure the regular payment of civil servants while ensuring that the public finances of the DRC remain sustainable. The IMF has been actively supporting the DRC through its extended credit facility programs, urging the government to implement swift reforms to restore fiscal health. The President's audit order comes at a critical time as the funding pressures on state finances have increased, necessitating urgent action to understand and rectify the situation.

This initiative sets the stage for a comprehensive review of staffing levels and payroll discrepancies. By scrutinizing workforce compliance with approved staffing numbers, the government aims to identify gaps and possible areas for reform. This audit could be pivotal in shaping the fiscal policy landscape in the DRC, potentially leading to reforms that could stabilize the country's finances and improve the governance of public funds.