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Works Ministry to Absorb Assets Commission

HomeAYV NewsWorks Ministry to Absorb Assets Commission

Works Ministry to Absorb Assets Commission

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This is according to the Deputy Minister of Works and Public Assets, Mrs. Melrose A. Kargbo, who was responding to questions from AYV about the reportedly estranged relationship between her ministry and the NAGPC with regard to who the latter is answerable to. She said among other things that no one is contesting what the Act that created the NAGPC says, “the reality is that President Bio in his wisdom deemed it sensible to relieve himself of some responsibilities so as to give him more time and room to deal with more important state matters.

She informed AYV at her New England Ville office yesterday and produced  a memo from State House dated 2nd July, 2018 which instructed the Ministry of Works and Public Assets to assume oversight functions of the Assets Commission; the reason why President Bio named the ministry Works and Public Property.

She produced another memo dated 23rd July, 2018 which is a request by the SALWACO to occupy the DELCO House which is government property; a request that was forwarded by SALWACO to the National Assets and Public Property Commission, which then forwarded the same request to State House for confirmation.

However, according to the Deputy Minister of Works, State House responded to the SALWACO request for use of the DELCO House, by instructing the Ministry of Works and Public Property to assume oversight role since the Assets Commission falls under the purview of the Ministry of Works and Public Property.

Earlier during our investigation, Chairman of the Assets Commission, Mr. Abu Hindolo Moseray in an interview with AYV at his New England Ville office in Freetown stated that since he was appointed to the position, he has been strictly going by what the National Assets and Government Property Commission Act empowers him to do which is “establish and maintain a National Register of all national assets and government property; serve as custodian of the Master Register; report on the allocation and use of various assets; review and revise the Master Register of national assets and when necessary in collaboration with the relevant ministries or departments” among other roles, duties and responsibilities.

According to Mr. Moseray, he is there to serve Sierra Leone and President Bio that appointed him. He added that as long as the correct and legal thing is done to change the status quo, he will continue to abide by what the Act empowers him to do until such an amendment is made by Parliament, instructing him to do otherwise. He maintained however that he is ready and would abide by whatever decision in the event Parliament does amend the particular section dealing with who the Commission is answerable to.

However, the Deputy Minister of Works stated that a Cabinet Paper is currently being prepared to forward to Parliament for an amendment to the section in the Act which makes for the Assets Commission to only be answerable directly to the Office of the President.

“We are not against anything or anyone. What is currently happening is that President Bio is taking a new direction and he is ensuring that what needs to be changed in order for the new direction to flourish would be changed or amended; so that the president could have more time to deal with other more important matters instead of having all the parastatals and commissions reporting directly to him when there are competent ministries and departments set up to manage and monitor the activities of parastatals and commissions,” Mrs. Melrose Kargbo, Deputy Minister of Works and Public Property told AYV.

Investigations continue.

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