In a spirited debate on the 2025 National Budget, Acting Leader of Government Business, Hon. Emerson Lamina of Kono District, commended the budget’s theme and called for national unity and patriotism among Members of Parliament (MPs).

Hon. Lamina praised the Minister of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, and his team for presenting what he described as a “nationalistic budget” and urged MPs to prioritize the country’s interests.

Drawing inspiration from the late Nelson Mandela, Hon. Lamina emphasized the importance of putting Sierra Leone first. He highlighted improvements in economic management under the current administration, noting that a hundred dollars now has greater purchasing power for essential commodities like rice in Sierra Leone compared to neighboring countries. He also lauded local agricultural advancements, such as domestic onion production, reducing dependency on imports from Guinea.

Addressing Sierra Leone’s debt history, he praised former President Kabba’s debt waiver efforts while criticizing the APC government for accruing significant debts. He highlighted the SLPP-led government’s investment in road infrastructure, electricity expansion, and equitable development across all districts.

Hon. Lamina called for greater domestic revenue mobilization and urged MPs to focus on the “Five Big Game Changers,” particularly rice production. He praised the government’s focus on human capital development, education, and youth employment, stating that initiatives in the mining sector alone could create over 300,000 jobs.

The Acting Leader also took aim at the APC for what he termed as “politicized development,” accusing the previous administration of favoring the northern region over the south and east. He referenced the 2017 Auditor General Report to highlight alleged corruption in the APC government and commended the current administration for strides in recruitment, wage increases for teachers, and debt servicing.

Hon. Lamina used the platform to advocate for the people of Kono, highlighting historical injustices faced by the district. He celebrated the inclusion of the 18-kilometer Koindu City road construction in the 2025 budget and praised progress toward establishing a Kono University under President Bio’s leadership.

Finance Minister Bangura addressed MPs’ concerns about the budget and provided detailed clarifications. The 2025 National Budget has been committed to the Committees on Sub-Appropriation and Supply for further review and scrutiny.