By Musa Paul Feika
Parliamentary clerk seems to have bitten more than he can chew by sacking 100 workers without approval from Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC).
PSC established by law to provide administration of Parliament and other related matters. The Speaker also confirmed that there were ghost workers who have been receiving salaries and allowances.
In response to concerns by the opposition, Speaker of Parliament, Dr Chernor Abass Bundu who heads PSC said his institution had no plan to sack workers.
Dr Bundu said any issue that had to do with the people’s welfare should be done in accordance with the law because it would affect their lives causing Sierra Leoneans to lose confidence in Parliament.
What appears an urgent action by the legislative body, Dr Bundu has summoned a meeting to offer reason for the dismissal.
Report however shows that Hon. Paran Tarawallie wanted to replace the 100 sacked workers with his family friends and relatives.
It was alleged that since Tarawalie became the Clerk of Parliament in 2021, he had been using his office to sack workers and replace them with his well-wishers, friends and relatives.
No one knows what will befall the Parliamentary clerk if the allegation is proven true.
It was recently reported by a local online TV that Tarawallie’s wife, Abibatu Paran Tawarallie and 17 others had been receiving monthly salaries from 2021 to date.
A document stamped and signed by the Clerk of Parliament shows that his wife had been receiving seven million, six hundred and sixty thousand Leones (Le7,666, 000) per month.
During a radio interview, Parliamentary Office from the Institute of Governance Reform, Ishmail Saidu Kanu said urged Parliament to introduce automatic system for all workers.
Mr Kanu called on the main opposition, All People’s Congress Party (APC) leader in Parliament, Abdul Kargbo to treat the matter with utmost seriousness. He said the number of workers who were sacked is massive in light of the reality or the country’s hardship.
A journalist and political commentator, Melvin Tejan Manasary said for the works of Parliament to be effective, people should be employed without partisanship.
The dismissal of qualified civil servants and replaced them with untrained and unqualified people will undermine the functioning of Parliament and bring unhealthy democracy.
The sacking is the latest in a series since SLPP took over state command in April, 2018 especially those perceived as APC sympathisers.
A committee in Parliament will mount investigation about the allegation and appropriate action would be taken in the near future.