Welcoming galaxy of important personalities in society, the Senior Assistant Secretary of NAGPC, Zainu Sanusi welcomed and solicited the cooperation and support of dignitaries present to work with the Regional office for the protection, accountability and judicious use of national assets and government properties in Kenema and the Eastern Region as a whole.
Presenting an overview of NAGPC, the Executive Secretary, Frank S.P.K. Lawson mentioned that the NAGPC was established by an Act of Parliament, under the office of the President as custodian of all national and government properties to make provision for the control and identification of all National assets and Government’s Property; to provide for the maintenance and improvement of such property and the monitoring of their use or disposal; and for connected purposes.
Mr. Lawson further added that the duties of NAGPC includes and not limited to establishing and maintaining a National Register of all national assets and Government’s property to be known as the Master Register which shall contain a list of all national assets, monitor and report on the state of various national assets and Government’s property to the President together with appropriate recommendations and no disposal of any national asset or Government property shall take place without prior consultation with the Commission.
Additionally, Mr. Lawson revealed that the powers of NAGPC includes; receive and consider any information or proposal for identifying or improving any national asset or Government’s property, receive and consider any information on the misuse, abuse or disposal of Government’s property without lawful authority, undertake the examination from time to time of national assets and Government’s property and make recommendations to the President for their improvement or security and in consultation with the Attorney – General and Minister of Justice and the Police, take any appropriate action to stop, check or recover any national asset or Government’s property being willfully or maliciously misused, abused or misappropriated.
The no-nonsense and hardworking Minister, Dr Denis Sandy, Minister of Lands, Housing and Environment mentioned in a hard but personate tone, “the Lands Ministry works hand in glove with NAGPC and we are responsible to identify, demarcate and retrieve all government lands and hand them over to the National Assets and Government Properties Commission as they are the sole custodian for all government properties”.
Dr Sandy further added that every Sierra Leonean has right to government land but should be acquired legally through the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Environment.
“Remember, the land space within the geographical boundaries of Sierra Leone legally belongs to the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone, therefore illegal possession and misuse of land is a criminal offense by the laws of Sierra Leone. Anyone found wanting will face the gravity of the law…..this is not business as usual”, the Minister cautioned.
Representing the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Eastern Region, Staff Officer Foday Tarawallie, mentioned that protection of government properties has always been part of their statutory mandate of the Police as enshrined in the constitution of Sierra Leone. Therefore, he applauded NAGPC for the robust strive in complimenting the role of Police. He unequivocally mentioned that the SLP is more than prepared to work with the National Assets and Government’s Properties Commission. However, Staff Officer Tarawallie concluded by sending stiff warning to individuals or group of individuals in the habit of misusing government properties to desist forthwith otherwise they will vigorously face the brunt of the law.
In his keynote address the Resident Minister Eastern Region, Mr. Andrew A. Fatorma proudly told the guests that he was one of the most happiest man for the establishment of the National Assets and Government`s Properties Commission office in Kenema, because the commission will help prevent the gross misuse of government properties in his region.
Mr. Fatorma was brutal with the truth and mentioned that most government properties including and limited to office structures and equipment, quarters transport facilities etc are misused by some government officials he however mentioned that his administration has put mechanisms in place to mitigate misuse of national assets and government properties.
In a very strong words, Mr. Fatorma mentioned that with the physical presence of the NAGPC`s office in Kenema, clearly indicates that the New Director system of governance under the astute leadership of His Excellency the President, Retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio, will not accommodate any iota of misuse of national assets and government`s properties within the Sovereign State of Sierra Leone” Mr. Fatorma mentioned.
The Resident Minister attracted the attention of all Ministries, Departments and Agencies based in Kenema to submit an updated inventory list to the NAGPC office in Kenema for record purpose in the Master in Register. Mr. Fatorma appealed to state and non-state actors to support and cooperate professionally with the National Assets and Government Properties Commissioned to carry out their work unhindered.
In the official opening of the new office, the Chairman/Commissioner of the National Assets and Government Properties Commission Chief Abu Hindolo Moseray appealed to all in order to embrace and work with the commission to succeed. He further added that NAGPC business is everybody`s business and as patriots, it is incumbent on all to contact the regional office or call the following numbers 078545828/07661001/078705388/076389541/076311226) and report any misuse of national assets and government properties.
