Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has called on the newly elected Mayors, Chairpersons and Councillors of district and city councils to be transparent and accountable in the management of resources provided by central government, as well as domestic revenue.

He said: “Accountability and transparency of councils would ensure you deliver on His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s second term Big Five manifesto pillars”.

The vice president encouraged the elected political heads to embark on serious revenue mobilisation in their respective councils, emphasising on the need for councils to put in place strategies to raise revenue.

Doubling as Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Local Government and Decentralisation, the vice president informed the elected council representatives about plan by government to improve the condition of service of councillors.

He assured the council representatives of an increased in allocation because of the councils’ responsibilities to ensure they improved in revenue collection.

He admonished the political heads of councils to build relation with traders, paramount chiefs, and the population, while further admonishing them to work, support and respect the councillors to motivate them to work and deliver on the councils’ goals.

Dr. Jalloh highlighted the achievements of President Bio’s first term New Direction Government including education, health, agriculture, electricity, road and infrastructure amongst others.

He noted that the inauguration ceremonies were the first in history to have huge number of female councillors since the reintroduction of local councils in Sierra Leone.

Minister of Local Government, Amb. Tamba Lamina cited sections in the Local Government Act 2022 as provisions that make it mandatory for all Local Councils’ political heads to subscribe to the oath of office after their elections, adding that the occasion was in conformity with the said legal frameworks.