Deputy Minister Clarifies Government’s Stand on Mayors and Chairpersons

The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, Madam Melrose Kargbo has told journalists that the request from Councils to extend their tenure of service after the dissolution of Parliament is unconstitutional and therefore could no longer be tolerated despite much criticism from the social media condemning government’s decision

She made this statement on Thursday 16th February 2023, at the usual press briefing organized by the Ministry of Information and Communication.

The Deputy Minister also commented on the criticism on social media about the government’s decision to ask mayors and chairpersons to vacate office.

The deputy minister stated that President Bio has reviewed the 2004 Local Council Act which automatically makes it outdated and replaced it with the 2022 Local Council Act.

She said the government has also reviewed the 2010 Decentralization Policies in 2020 to introduce many new policies that would improve the work of the Local Councils, attract development and equally maintain the Devolution of Finances to Local Councils which is aimed at boosting their activities.

According to her, the current administration has ensured that all Mayors, Chairpersons and Councilors now receive monthly salaries together with end-of-service benefits including all Paramount Chiefs who receive only a few tokens from the previous governments instead of salaries.

She said aspiring councillors in the next Local Council Elections will have enough time to engage in the campaign for their re-election.

She explained that Local Councils are elected for four years but because of other setbacks, they have been given up to five years to go in line with the Central Government Elections.

She said the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone is overwhelmed with a lot of activities which includes the June 24 elections.

According to her, there were over seventy (70) Paramount Chieftaincy Elections of which they have conducted thirty-eight Elections and returned four (4) Paramount Chiefs who were facing problems with their subject.