BY IRWIN ANGIKI
Prime Minister Matthew Wale has said he will forego the recent salary increase and replace the current salary system for parliamentarians.
He proposes merging the salary systems of parliamentarians and public servants under one commission.
In a statement this morning, Mr Wale reiterated his long-standing policy position on the determination of salaries for members of Parliament (MPs).
Wale adds, he has not lost sight of his vision of removing the Parliamentary Entitlements Commission (PEC).
He said the proposed reform will replace PEC with a Higher Salaries Commission by the end of 2027 which will deal with remuneration of MPs and public servants. Currently, the PEC deals only with MPs’ salaries.
“This reform reflects our commitment to fairness, transparency and consistency across the public service,” Wale said.
“Salary decisions should not be isolated to one group but considered within the broader context of the entire public sector.”
Wale said the reform will take time, meanwhile urging PEC to ‘exercise careful judgment and take into full account the ongoing cost of living pressures faced by Solomon Islanders when deliberating on MPs’ remuneration’.
“The realities facing our people must remain at the forefront of any decision-making process,” he said.
Prime Minister Wale also said he will forego the salary increase awarded by PEC.
“This is a time for responsible leadership. I believe it is important to show restraint and solidarity with our people during these challenging economic times,” Wale said.
In a press conference on Wednesday this week, PEC Chairman Nigel Maezama said the salary adjustment took effect on April 1 this year – seven pay days ago.
In light of his announcement today that he would forego the salary increase, it is unclear whether PM Wale was not aware of the salary rise before it became a current media spotlight issue.
The PM Press Secretariat has not replied to Island Sun’s questions on this.
Parliamentarians’ salaries are reviewed yearly according to the Constitution, section 69B.
PEC granted a 6 percent rise to parliamentarians’ salary, taking effect April 1, 2026. The issue became viral after In-Depth Solomons published it on July 20.
This has not gone down well with members of public and Transparency Solomon Islands (TSI) calling the MP salary increase insensitive to the current financial and livelihood hardships that Solomon Islanders are facing.
Public servants, whose salaries are determined by the Ministry of Public Service, for the past 20 years have received five cost of living adjustment (COLA) pay rises. Similarly, police have received five adjustments in the last two decades.
Nurses have received seven COLA in the last 20 years, and teachers with six. Most of these increases were the result of pressure from unions.
Public servants and teachers speaking to Island Sun this week said their increments translated to $50 to $200 increase per fortnight, depending on seniority in the public service and teachers ranks.
One sentiment shared by all who spoke to Island Sun is despite the adjustments along the years, their salaries continue to be outweighed by Solomon Islands’ high cost of living.
In its statement yesterday, TSI said the MP salary increase was unnecessary also because the politicians were receiving other entitlements which keep their wallets fat.
“MPs are already renumerated adequately, their gas, water, electricity, rent, transport, servants, gardeners, security, medical bills overseas, clothing, sitting allowances, are already paid for by public fund or tax payers.
“The rest especially tax payers do not have such lucrative renumerations. It is grossly irresponsible of PEC to increase their salary when they are the most privileged group in Solomon Islands,” TSI said.
Photo credit: PM Press Secretariat
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