Post a comment
The Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has held strategic meeting with the Bo City Council Officials on Friday 2nd August, 2024 at the Bo District Council conference hall.
The meeting was presided over by the Bo District Council Chairman, Victor Kosseh Hindowa
Speaking on the importance of Local Councils, he reveals that without the existence of Local Councils, localities would be chaotic and deprived.
He made this pronouncement while addressing officials of Bo District and Bo City Councils at a first engagement model meeting with Local authorities.
The objective of the engagement was to consult with the Councils’ leadership, Council members, Core staff and Devolved Ministry staff members on challenges that strangulate progress and to outline existing opportunities that will enable Local Councils’ contribution in the successful implementation of the big five game changers.
The Vice President, who doubles as the Chairperson for the Inter-Ministerial Committee, said his Government has long realized that decentralization is not only meant to empower local authorities, but to profoundly improve the lives of citizens.
According to him, the Bio-led Government has demonstrated more willingness in absolute delegation of functions than any other could have done. This, he said has been evidenced by the relinquishing of additional functions in their first term of office.
VP Juldeh spoke on the review of Chairpersons, Mayors and Deputies sitting allowance to salary, the increase in staff salaries and the pronouncement of end of service benefit for retired Local Council staff, as a clear manifestation of his government’s commitment to solidifying decentralization.
Speaking of resource allocation, the Chairperson or Mayor, he said should be responsible to lead in the decision of where resources should be allocated in tandem with the Council’s development plan.
He narrated on plans to operationalize horizontal staff promotion, citing that Chief Administrators could be made to become permanent Secretaries at respective Ministries at central level.
He sternly warned Chief Administrators and other Council officials to be non-confrontational with their Chairpersons and Mayors in decision making, as such has a consequential effect in service delivery.
He re-emphasized the need to maximize resource mobilization, so Councils can independently address their own needs. He recognised the efforts of the Local Councils in the fight against Kush and substance abuse. Entreating all for an effective management of funds remitted for the coordination of programs on the fight against Kush and substance abuse.
He called on Council members to form cooperatives that geared towards the actualization of the ‘Feed Salone’ agenda.
Other notable speakers were the Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs; who described the engagement as a water shed meeting, Resident Minister-South, Mayor-Bo City Council, Chief Administrators-Bo District and Bo City Councils, Council members and Devolved Sectors’ Head representative. Their statements mainly focused on better conditions of service, ranging from staff salaries for Local Council staff members, relocation and other allowances, and capacity building opportunities for Council Officials.
Similar engagements are expected to be held in other regions in the months ahead
