Signs that government will pay backlog salaries to opposition law makers are virtually non-existent raising questions about government’s commitment to obligations of the Bintumani peace talks.
The seeming non-payment of salaries became an issue of controversy in parliament when one of the SLPP (Sierra Leone People’s Party) parliamentarians said his government would not pay such money since they never worked for it.
As if badly hurt by such comment, the statement triggered a response from the opposition side with Honourable Daniel Koroma saying “they are not in parliament for money but to represent the people”
The controversy caused the Speaker of parliament to stand down the house for an amicable resolution of the conflict.
The move for payment of backlog salaries and allowances is also opposed outside parliament as the public see it as a waste of public funds.
A popular argument hold that the parliamentarians were not coerced into boycotting parliament, and thus not entitled to such payment.
As the backlog is withheld from the law makers, fear that they would not get other normal entitlements remain high.
No gainsaying that the state coffers have gone empty as the ruling party could not pay even their own parliamentarians in the first two months before they retired for a recess.
The payment was one of the main conditions that warranted the APC parliamentarians and councillors to take up their seats in parliament and councils for state governance.
It also formed part of the resolutions in a communique that emanated from the three-day dialogue brokered by officials of the  Commonwealth, African Union and the Economic Community Of West African States.
The communique states in Resolution 4(d) that “upon their assumption of their elective governance positions, all elected APC officials (Members of Parliament, Mayors, Chairpersons, Councillors) will have the issue regarding their entitlements addressed accordingly by the appropriate institutions.”
The signing of the communique by the two political parties ended a three-month post-election stalemate that kept the opposition away from state governance.
From the outset, APC politicians have kicked against participating in government until credible election results are announced, but such decision was changed after the Commonwealth, AU and ECOWAS officials arrived in Sierra Leone for a peaceful negotiation.
As time passes by without the backlog, many have come to see government’s action as a mere hypocrisy aimed only at getting opposition law makers to parliament.
It is also hoped that government would get the required funding and cooperation from the international community when APC’s elected officials take part in state governance.
But, funding cut by the international community and the country’s security situation as well as a contracted revenue base immensely reduces government’s capacity to pay a three-month backlog to opposition law makers.
Government even finds it difficult to pay government workers whose take-home is a mere pittance.
Close to two months, the United States, United Kingdom and the European Union are yet to provide funds as usual to Bio’s government making it difficult for them to meet their financial obligations.
It was a big surprise to government when the United States Embassy put out a press release on the day APC went to parliament that until the election fraud is investigated, they will not offer money to a government that is illegitimate.
No Surprise that Sierra Leone missed the much-needed US$500m from the United States which would have enabled government to deliver essential services to the people as well as embark on major projects in the country.
The United States does not stop at funding cut as she slams travel ban on all government officials so that Bio’s government could be crumbled.
According to the ban, no government official will enter the United States until Bio gives up power.
The United States also threatened to investigate government officials for corruption and money laundering offences as they had spotted off-shore accounts.
Like the United States, EU has also held back its funds as they also maintain that the Bio regime is illegal.
EU has cancelled most of its development projects especially construction and rehabilitation of roads where the inter-governmental organisation has displayed much of its strength in Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone’s former colonial power also toed the same line as it banned Sierra Leone from countries that would get help from the Brits’ tax-payers’ money.
Britain has been providing funds for the promotion of state governance especially the rule of law and human rights projects.
Britain, over the years, has been paying officials in the Anti-Corruption Commission and also funded the defunct Justice Biobele commissions of inquiry, but the support has stopped owing to allegations of vote stealing.
United Nations Development Programme too has been providing money for government to pay magistrates, judges and other officials in the judiciary especially the circuit or the mobile court.
International financial institutions too have taken collective punishments against Sierra Leone for failing to conduct free, fair and transparent elections in Sierra Leone.
Recently, World Bank refused to cancel Sierra Leone’s debts although it did so for several African countries, and World Bank too has not offered any fund to Sierra Leone Government until the votes are counted.
Even Commonwealth, ECOWAS and African Union as well as other countries and organisations are not willing to support Sierra Leone in any form as Bio’s government is considered illegitimate.
As Bio tries to raise funds, he has been visiting several countries in the world with China and Saudi Arabia being his most favourite destinations at the moment.
The Chinese have won most of Bio’s projects with the Ferengbeya-Pepel rail and port in the PortLoko and Tonkolili districts being the most notable ones.
China has also won the Black Johnson, the National Stadium and other construction projects in the name of raising money to pay government workers.
Despite several projects offered to the Chinese, Bio could not stay in as he visits the Chinese President Xi Jinping to strengthen relations with him in the name of national development.
From China, Bio also recently visited Saudi Arabia to garner funds for the payment of salaries and wages to government officials and most likely the payment of backlog salaries and wages to APC law makers.
The President’s thirst for money was not quenched as he returned home empty-handed from Saudi Arabia as he had no clue that the Asian country was a key ally to the United States.
Despite government’s desperate effort for money, he could go to Russia owing to its strained relationship with Sierra Leone.
At the United Nations General Assembly, President Bio reportedly voted in favour of sanctions for Russia owing to the invasion of Ukraine.
An opposition parliamentarian, Honourable Mohamed Bangura who was in Ukraine showed support and solidarity for the people of Ukraine while calling on the United States and other NATO (Northern Atlantic Treaty Organisation) countries to take action against Russia.
How can Russia lend a helping hand to Sierra Leone at a trying time like this?
The situation is worsened by the security crisis that has gripped Sierra Leone with Sunday’s incident being the most notable. A curfew is now in place with business badly affected and the revenue base contracted, and where is the hope for backlog salaries?