Lawmakers in Sierra have on Tuesday withheld the budget of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development amounting to Le. 4,395,890,700.
The MP’s have noted that the withholding of the Ministry’s budget was largely because they have disrespected them which in itself Contempt of Parliament.
This decision came up at yesterday hearings when the chairperson of the Appropriation Sub- Committee 4 Hon, Alusine Kanneh was tabling the recurrent and development budget estimates for the financial year 2020.
All the budgets estimates for the various ministries were approved by the committee of supplies of the whole House with the exception of the Ministry Local Government and Rural Development.
Hon Musa Fofana of Constituency 23, Kono District standing on the Motion to withhold budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Local Government and Oversight Committee Chairman ,Local Government and Rural Development, said the Ministry has failed to bring the funds received from donor partners for the review of the Local Government Act of 2004 and the Decentralization Policy to Parliament for ratification pursuant to Section 118(7) of the 1991 Constitution.
He added that the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry has no respect for the Committee, noting that he has been invited several times by Parliament but he has refused to appear.
The C4C MP continued that the committee on Local Government in Parliament was not involved in the ongoing consultations towards the amendment of the Local Government Act and the decentralization policy.
Hon. Lahai Marah who seconded the Motion, said MDAs should respect and take Parliament very seriously and demanded MDAs to respect the dignity of Parliament. He had implored on his colleagues MPs to stand by the Motion of the chairman.
The Speaker of House, Dr Abass Bundu had called an emergency leadership meeting of political at his chambers to discuss the issue.
After the said discussions between the Speaker of the House and the Leadership of Political parties the speaker noted that as head of Parliament he will ensure that the dignity of Parliament is withhold. He pinpointed that the issue is very serious and has to do with the dignity of the House.