Those who think that life is a bed of Roses within the walls of parliament these days have been proven wrong by the latest revelation of an SLPP (Sierra Leone People’s Party) parliamentarian.
The law maker (name withheld for fear of reprisals) who represents one of the South-Eastern districts has intimated this press about the difficulties he and colleague members of parliament are going through.
Currently, they are not comfortable with the low salary, sitting and other allowances and the non-payment of constituency development fund.
“As a member of parliament, I am paid just NLe20, 000 or Le20, 000, 000 (twenty million Leones) which is not enough when one looks at the pressure I am getting from my constituency,” he vented out his frustration.
To solve some of the problems, if not all, the SLPP law maker spends almost 50% of his salary every month to maintain good relationship with his people.
“Most times, executive officials in my constituency present a number of issues especially financially matters that affect them, and I have to come to solve those problems,” he voiced out his main challenge as situation is being worsened every day since he is not given money to run a constituency.
How life looks like for a law maker whose expenditure seems to outweigh her monthly salary?
Situation is also polarised by a seeming uncontrollable inflation and cost-of-living crisis which has badly hit the country and shown no signs of receding.
Unlike past times, the population of parliamentarians has increased tenfold thus creating more pressure for the public purse.
It could not be easy to take care of their financial needs, but government, according to the laws of Sierra Leone, is under obligation to pay salaries and allowances to make things work.
It is a sad situation for the parliamentarians who also are under moral obligation to make things work in their constituencies.
Perhaps they sometimes want to turn to other allowances as supplementary incomes just to make their people a bit happy, but the money again is meagre.
Lawmakers in Sierra Leone receive just NLe1, 000 or Le1, 000, 000 (one million Leones) the equivalent of approximately $40 as monthly sitting allowance. Even vehicle and fuel allowances are stagnating showing another big challenge for the people’s representatives who many people see as custodian of resources.
The fuel allowance given to members of parliament is just a mere drop in the ocean looking at the oversight and monitoring function of law makers. Apart from representing their people, parliamentarians also monitor and report on most of the development projects implemented in their constituencies for compliance with timelines and demands of quality assurance.
It is no easy ride for the law makers whose priority is to serve their people, strengthen their political parties in various constituencies and get another mandate in the next election to represent their people.
The constituency development fund which previous governments used to provide for parliamentarians is not forthcoming these days, and no reason has been offered for the non-payment.
In the hay days, Past governments would provide NLe61, 000, 000 or Le61, 000, 000 (sixty-one million Leones) equal to $3,000 as constituency development fund.
With this money, parliamentarians would implement minor projects in their constituencies to improve the lives of their people and others even constructed offices where they used interact with their people to know their felt needs.
Those days are far gone and one could hardly dream about them.
The latest disclosure by parliamentarian of a ruling party stuns and shocks many Sierra Leoneans who hold the view that only opposition parliamentarians feel the heat.
It is definitely not the case as opposition parliamentarians are better off since they could easily gain sympathy from their people. They know that their party, the All People’s Congress (APC) is not in governance and they can easily put up with any situation.
However, there is no hiding place for parliamentarians of the ruling party as their people expect much from them since their party is in governance and in charge of all resources.
Coming from communities whose understanding about governance is too little, the parliamentarians will continue to receive sustained pressure from their people, and situation would be more difficult for those who have made several promises to their people in the campaign days.
In most constituencies, the people do not see parliamentarians as mere representatives but men with the means to lift them out of abject poverty through the implementation of viable projects.
They therefore do not hesitate to show even their personal problems to the parliamentarians with the hope of getting quick answers.
In such distressful situations, parliamentarians feel obliged to issue handouts or remittances to those badly in need just to popularise their party.
The sad issue bothering on the poor conditions of service for law makers has been an age-old one within the walls of parliament with several actions taken to trample it in the dust of history.
APC/SLPP parliamentarians, few years back, spoke with one voice on their terms and conditions of service as compared with parliamentarians of other countries.
They threatened that they would not approve any government budget if their welfare needs were not addressed.
In recognition of the important role they play in society, government quickly and positively intervened into the situation by increasing their salaries and addressing other welfare needs. However the problem still remained unsolved as the foresight about what would happen today never dawned on any of them.
No one expected that there there would be persistent and uncontrollable price hikes in the country at this moment. The people of Sierra Leone expected that prices of basic goods and services would go back to where they were in early 2000, but such hope has been dashed.
Local and international reports on Sierra Leone’s economy indicate close to 50% increase in inflation, a situation that makes it difficult not only for the down trodden mass but also highly placed personalities.
It is a highly complex situation since government cannot shift the financial burden to anyone although Sierra Leone’s current economic situation is nothing to write home about.
The economy is weakened by funding cut and other tough measures imposed on Sierra Leone by the international community (United States, United Kingdom, United Nations, European Union, Germany, Ireland, and France).
Such inter-governmental agencies as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund also withhold loans and grants from the SLPP government. The international community used to provide funds as annual budget support to keep the economy going.
The European Union, in particular, has been playing a critical role towards budget assistance and funding critical infrastructural projects in the country including those in provincial and district headquarters.
It provided funds for the construction of Masiaka-Freetown, Freetown-Kambia and Bo-Liberia highways which opened up the country to international trade and commerce.
The European body would also take credit for the construction of strategic bridges especially Moala, Mabang and Magbele bridges which link the capital city to the provinces.
The United Kingdom, through its development wing, Department For International Development (DFID) used to assist government in the payment of salaries of key sector workers especially those of the Anti-Corruption Commission.
The UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) was also paying salaries and allowances of judges, magistrates and state counsels as part of the justice reform project.
The long awaited and much needed MCC (Millenium Challenge Corporation) grant amounting to $500m too has been withheld by the United States government pending the outcome of the election probe.
Such strong actions against the government of Sierra Leone are tied down to allegations of rigging of the June 24, 2023 elections in conspiracy with the Chief Electoral Commissioner, Mohamed Kenewui Konneh. The funders have resolved to cut off cooperation with the Bio regime until the results are thoroughly investigated to determine the actual winner, and the international community has not wavered in their actions against Sierra Leone.
Situation is worsened by the fear of investors to put their resources in Sierra Leone owing to the country’s deteriorating political and security situation.
Some foreign business entities which have been in operation all this while have shut down quite lately with Sierra Rutile Company being the latest example. The Rutile miner recently laid off most of their staff without giving out clear, proper and sufficient reason.
The Poor investment climate and absence of funds makes it difficult for government to ensure good pay for public sector workers in such a trying time, but parliamentarians, the people’s representatives, are the worst-hit.