By Ragan M. Conteh & Isha S. Mansaray
The Local Councils Association Sierra Leone (LoCASL) has expressed grave dismay over the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, including the Public Service Commission, for the lack of procedural recruitment of staff in the 19 Councils across the country.
This was referred to, by the Chairman of the LoCASL who doubles as the Chairman of the Bo District Council, Joseph Munda Bindi, as “broad daylight robbery” that has brought serious disrepute in the Councils.
Joseph Munda Bindi explains that the Ministry of Local Government, according to law, is responsible for implementing decentralisation and local governance reforms, adding that what they are experiencing, as Councils, is not in conformity with the provisions on the Act.
The Local Government Act 2004, especially No. 1, is an Act that consolidates amendments, the law on local government, and provides for the decentralisation and devolution of functions, powers and services to Local Councils and for other matters connected therein.
According to Joseph Munda Bindi, in a letter written February 9th 2021, to the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Local Government and Rural Development, chaired by Hon. Aaron Koroma, serious concerns about the recruitment and posting of staff to councils without following the provisions in Public Service Commission were raised.
He said the provisions in the Act allows Councils to recruit in consultation with the Ministry of Local Government and Commission, adding this is in the reverse as the Commission has recruited staff to various councils without the knowledge of the Local Council authorities nationwide.
He continued that the Councils Association is not pleased with the recruitment of core staff into the Council without consultation as enshrined in the Act. He added that many are not recognised and are suffering because of the growing conflict between the authorities in the Councils.
Mr. Bindi pointed out, clearly, that Councils are bestowed with the mandate to recruit in consultation with relevant authorities, especially the Commissions and the ministry. He added that the law does not leave any vacuum during the recruitment of any staff of the Councils.
Several Chairmen expressed concerns about the differences between the Chief Administration and Chairmen who are also not working together as many of the CAs, according to them, are only working for their paymasters and do not listen to their political heads in the Councils.
Admonishing the 90% of representatives, from the 19 Councils, including the Chief Administrators, Chairmen and Mayors, plus core staff, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Oversight on Local Government, Hon. Aaron Koroma, said Parliament was aware of section 20 on the Constitution that gives powers to the Councils to operate.
According to Hon. Aaron Koroma, Parliament has High Court powers and that it also has the powers to summon every MDA to answer questions and to explain about their operations. He informed that his Committee frowns at those CAs who absent themselves during hearings.
“It is an obstruction to be absent from the hearings and appropriate actions will be taken,” Hon Koroma said.
He explained that Parliament is working on the guiding principles, which are the constitutions and those Councils and authorities should work in tandem in the provisions of the sacred books. According to him, Parliament will not tolerate anyone breaching the rules in the law books.
The deputy Leader of Government Business, Hon. Bashiru Silikie, stated how disheartening it is when Councils come to Parliament for resolution. He maintained most Local Councils do not respect the laws that Parliament create and the law that creates the Local Councils.
Hon Silikie admonished Council heads, reminding them that they have a social contract with those who voted for them. He explained that most of them are voted out for not respecting the laws and rules, or because of failure to deliver in their respective jobs.
Making his submission, Hon. Kekura Vandy said Parliament will not circumvent laws because people should work towards respecting laws created by Parliament to avert conflict, while warning authorities not to do things with impunity.
He revealed that, because people are working on individual interest, they tend to divide themselves, adding that Councils’ issues must be amicably handled with care as they have the tendency to stagnate the progress of the Councils. He said authorities should not be allowed to impose people based on personal endeavours.
The Permanent Secretary, in the Ministry of Local Government, in his submission, disclosed that the area of consultation is the missing link in this process.
He said the possibility, to reverse the whole process, is very challenging because they have spent huge resources in all these processes. The Member of Parliament representing Constituency 059, Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara, caused the CAs and other authorities to go by the dictates of the law books, because the precedents people set today will hunt them tomorrow.
He said the laws are very clear and people should not be working against the laws to suit their comfort as it has ripple effects on them in the future.
After several deliberations, the Committee adjourned the hearing and promised to host the Ministry of Local Government and the Commissions, which will be followed by Committee resolutions.