In the economic landscape of Congo, the affair of the astronomical remuneration granted to the leaders of certain public companies has recently sparked a wave of indignation and legitimate questions. The Observatory of Public Expenditure has raised a real scandal by highlighting the exorbitant salaries received by the members of the governing body of the Regulatory Authority of Post and Telecommunications of Congo (ARPTC).
The figures put forward by the ODEP are simply astonishing: an average monthly salary of 340,000 USD per month and per leader, with gaps of up to 439,471 dollars. Compared to the emoluments of national deputies, which amount to 9,361 USD per month, these sums are dizzying and demonstrate a profound imbalance in the distribution of financial resources.
Indeed, while the Congolese population is facing precarious living conditions and a major humanitarian crisis, with millions of displaced people in the east of the country, it is unacceptable that a few individuals share millions of dollars in annual salaries. The social injustice is glaring, and this raises fundamental questions about the ethics and responsibility of public fund managers.
ODEP is right to denounce this unacceptable situation and to call for urgent measures to remedy this flagrant distortion. By calling on President Félix Tshisekedi to take immediate measures, and by urging civil society and the population to remain vigilant, the observatory is highlighting a crucial problem for good governance and the transparency of public institutions.
Faced with these shocking revelations, it is imperative that concrete actions be taken to clarify the situation, punish possible criminal practices and restore citizens’ trust in the administration. The investigations announced by the Minister of Justice are a crucial first step in this direction, but it is essential to ensure that the truth is established and that responsibilities are assumed.
Ultimately, this affair of the astronomical salaries of the ARPTC executives reveals the flaws in a system that must be reformed in depth to ensure sound and balanced management of public finances. Transparency, accountability and justice must be the pillars on which all public action is based, and it is crucial that the authorities take the necessary measures to restore trust and integrity in our institutions.