AYV News, November 28, 2024
The Parliament of Sierra Leone continued debate on the Bill entitled: ‘The National Budget 2025 or The Appropriation Act 2025’ for the financial services of Sierra Leone with the theme: ‘Improving the Well-being and Quality of Life of Sierra Leoneans’.
The Bill seeks to authorize expenditure from the Consolidated Fund for the services of Sierra Leone for the year 2025 and for other related matters.
Continuing the debate, Hon Abdul Latiff Sesay from Port Loko commended the President for the construction of the fire force station in Port Loko City, but informed the House that there is no fire extinguishing fighter vehicle on the ground.
He therefore, called on the government to purchase a brand new extinguishing vehicle for Port Loko. He decried the government for delaying the construction of a donor project hospital in Port Loko district. On State own enterprises, he said they are very important for the development of the nation and called on the Government to direct support to the sector for nation building.
He used the opportunity to call on Government to reduce taxation on the people for ease of business.
Hon. Nenneh Lebbie from Bo district submitted her debate on project implementation and the fight against hunger and stressed that President Bio has prioritised the ‘Feed Salone’ program, citing the fisheries sector as a component. The MP underscored the success stories of that initiative and noted the challenges.
She used the opportunity to advise the management on the judicious use of donor funding. She also acknowledged the huge benefits of the fisheries sector. “This country is losing so much in the fisheries sector due to the lack of the EU market”, she maintained.
The MP encouraged the government to do more surveillance in the territorial waters of the country and called for drastic measures to address the issue of of illegal fishing within the territorial waters of Sierra Leone.
On agriculture, she said there are lot of projects that had been successfully accomplished within the agriculture sector.
On education, she urged the school authority to provide actual data to Government for an informed decision within the sector. She concluded by appealing to Government to provide more employment opportunities for youth across the country.
Hon. Shiaka Musa Sama from Pujehun district denounced previous debater and commended the Government for making frantic efforts to alliviate the people out of poverty. He informed that the economy is relatively stable and advised colleague MPs to stop misleading others and support Government through oversight.
“It is hypocrisy to say one thing and do something different” he stated. He lauded the Government’s flagship programme Feed ‘Salone’ and noted that sustainable development means a nation must feed itself.
Hon. Paul Samba Conteh from Bombali, recalled that in 2020, the former Minister of Finance promised to electrify Fadugu but did not fulfill it. He therefore, expressed dismay over the deplorable road condition in Karena Town in the Bombali district and also decried unfair allocations of Budget to some MDAs.
Hon. Rebecca Yei Sam from Kono expressed happiness over the budget with reference to wages and salaries increment, and additional employments. She related the budget to the President’s manifesto promise with regards employment of thousands of people.
She used the opportunity to ask Government to support the Ministry of Labour with mobility and urged all and sundry to support Government to raise money in various ways to implement the budget.
She decried compatriots who are in the habit of misinforming others about the country. On the Kono University, she clarified certain financing towards same. She commended all for their various contributions towards the University.
The MP urged the Minister and the House to increase budget allocation to the Ministry of Gender and Children Affairs for proper sensitization and execution of activities.
Hon. John Sartie Kargbo from Western Area thanked all for their various contributions towards the budget and thanked the President for the 25% increment to pensioners. He however informed the House that, that the 25% increment for pensioners was not enough to sustain some of them.
He also made projection on the wage bill and salaries and raised concern over the recruitment process. He also recommended to the Government to decentralise to district levels for fairness. He appealed to the government for MPs to be giving quota in terms of recruitment. The MP expressed worries over the skyrocketing nature of prices of building materials and also appealed to government to construct low-cost housing for civil servants.
Hon. Rugiatu Tarawalie Mustapha from Kenema district described President Bio as a visionary Leader. She zoomed in on agriculture and noted that the ‘Feed Salone’ Project is the most viable project. She informed the House that any country that is ready to invest in agriculture and infrastructure especially on roads, would promote development.
She used the opportunity to call on Government to construct the road between Mano-Junction to Kono, Bo to Yeile and Kenema to Zimmi amongst others. She finally underscored the importance of agriculture in nation building.
Hon. PC. Marrah III Thor Thor Sheku Terenah Tongos Neya Konkoroba Franko Lai From Falaba district, focused his debate on roads with specific reference to Falaba and raised concern over the diversion of a major road in that district causing delay in the construction project.
He pleaded with the Government to employ more people from Falaba and also thanked the Government for his Hajj scholarship.
Hon. Ernest Dura Koroma from Kambia, described the debate as important as one of their functions which predicates around Budget scrutiny and approve.
The MP raised concern over the delay in construction of certain roads in Kambia. He recalled on President Bio’s promise to construct the Kambia-Tonko Limba Road. He appealed to the government to consider Tonko Limba.
Without roads he said many activities could not go on. He also advocated for Kambia to get electricity and appealed for a fair share of the National Budget.
