The Parliament of Sierra Leone has on Wednesday, 20/12/2023 unanimously approved the Eleventh Report of the Committee on Appointments and the Public Service, chaired by the Leader of Government, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma.

The Following Presidential Nominees were approved by Parliament :

  1. Mrs. Kadiatu Alie, Deputy Minister 1 – Ministry of Finance.

  2. Mrs. Jeneba J Bangura, Commissioner General – National Revenue Authority

  3. Ms. Susan Mamatormah Rogers, Deputy Commissioner General – National Land Commission.

  4. Mr. David Wayland Sinford Banya, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Wages and Compensation Commission

  5. Md. Martyna Nyagua Cecila Foday, Board of Directors – National Mineral Agency(NMA)

  6. Alpha Osman Timbo Esq, Chairman – Wages and Compensation Commission

  7. Mr. Tejan Ahmed Isreal Jah Esq, Ombudsman

  8. Mr Mohamed Lamin Janneh, Member – National Drugs Laws
    Enforcement Agency

  9. Dr. Joseph Ansu Tucker, Deputy Bank Governors-Monetary Stability Bank of Sierra Leone and

  10. Mr Thomas Fayia Kamara, Executive Director – National Protected Area Authority ( NPAA)

Seconding the motion, Deputy Opposition Leader 2, Hon Aaron Aruna Koroma from Tonkolili District said the nominees are eminently qualified and went on to praise the new Deputy Minister of Finance.
He encouraged the nominees especially the Deputy Minister of Finance to step up to address overspending on the National Budget and went on to reference the Public Financial Management Act and the Constitution for such. “It is only Parliament that approves budgetary allocation to MDA’s and not Finance Ministry”, he said. He called for the timely disbursement of funds to MDAs.
On the Audit Report, he advised that the needful had to be accomplished for defaulting MDAs and went on to call on Parliament for the enactment of penalties for that.

Hon. Koroma applauded the appointment of the NRA Commissioner General and wished her well in her new assignment. The MP also questioned the issues of duty waivers and requested the NRA Commissioner General to immediately look into the issue, citing that the Government loses a lot of revenue on the same.

On his part, the Deputy Leader of Government Business, Hon.Bashiru Silikie said the expectation of the people on development is very high and encouraged the nominees to deliver for the interest of the State. He warned them to live up to the expectations of Parliament and the President in terms of performance. He also highlighted the work and functions of Parliament. “Parliament is not responsible for development and Government is not given MPs a dime for the development of our districts”, he asserted.
The Deputy Leader heaped praises on the nomination of the NRA Commissioner General for her astute personality in executing her role as Deputy Minister of Finance.

While admonishing all the nominees, he called on the Deputy Bank Governor to be a team player and also use his experience to acquire positive changes for the development of the State “Excuses would not be tolerated but result”, he warned and went on to advise the Ombudsman and NPAA appointees to do the needful.

Hon Zainab Cathrine Tarawally, Opposition Whip 1, from Bombali District commended the appointment of female nominees. She praised the appointee of NRA and advised her to do the needful for the mobilization of revenue for the nation. She used the opportunity to encourage the appointees to work in line with the interest of the State. She emphatically encouraged the appointee on the Wages and Compensation Commission to transform and do justice to harmonizing salaries for the good of the nation.

Hon.Ing. Falla Tengbeh from Kailahun District applauded the nominees on their appointments and went on to advise them to embark on the implementation of the President’s Big Five Changers. “Maintain an open door policy in executing your functions”, he advised and went on to praise various appointees for their nomination by the President.

On his part, Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara, Opposition Whip from Kambia District narrated the tremendous work of Apha Timbo Esq. in the development of the State “He is the man that cut across all political divides”, he said and went on to admonish him to do the needful to address the wages and salary matters.

On the Drugs Law Agency appointee, he said there is a huge tax ahead of her and called on the House to speedily address the effect of drug abuse in the country. He said the issue of qualifications from Sierra Leoneans is not a problem but rather an implementation.

Hon. Mohamed Tarawallie Fofanah from Kambia District commended the appointment of the Deputy Minister of Finance for her dedicated services to the SLPP North America Branch and went on to praise the other nominees and encouraged them to deliver for the nation.

Hon. Francis Amara Kai-Samba from Kenema District said the nominees are hugely qualified and noted that qualification had never been a problem in the country but rather the implementation of tasks and execution of work. He called on the nominees to manifest experience and performance for the development of the State.

Hon.Mariama Bangura from Western Area Urban commended the appointment of Apha Timbo and went on to describe him as a transformative leader.
The female MP called on the appointee of the Drug Law Agency to do the needful to address all drug-related issues. On the NRA Commissioner General, she applauded her appointment and wished her well in her new assignment.

Hon. Sarty Banya from Kailahun District commended President Bio for appointing 40% of women to positions of trust and went on to note that the President had been a Nationalistic Leader, in light of appointing fine Sierra Leoneans. On the appointees, he advised them to measure up to expectations and work in line with the President’s agenda.

On her part, Hon.Veronica Kadie Sesay commended the appointment of women and urged them to work in the interest of the State. “I believe you can perform and all of you are more than qualified”. She said. She called on the ombudsman and NPAA appointees to change the narrative in those institutions.

On his part, Hon Alpha Amadu Bah Esq. commended Hon. Timbo and referred to him as a “National season man”. The MP went on to note that the personality of Hon.Alpha Timbo Esq. is unique and unpretentious. He called on politicians across the aisle to emulate his good character. The MP encouraged other nominees to serve well for the country.

Hon. PC Haja Fatamata Meama Kajue Koroma from Moyamba District praised the President for appointing fine Sierra Leoneans to the position of trust ” One day a female Sierra Leonean would be a president of this country “, she said and went on to admonish the female appointees to serve the people.

Hon Quitain Sallia Konneh from Kailahun District said he is short of words in commending President Bio for appointing female compatriots into a position of trust and went on to commend the nominees for their appointment. He advised the new NRA Boss to take proactive measures and sanitize the NRA office. On the appointee on the Wages and Compensation Commission, he admonished him to transform the work of the Commission.

In rounding up the debate, the Opposition Leader Hon.Abdul Kargbo from Port Loko District generally advised the appointees to work in the interest of the nation together with Staff members under their purview. “Treat all staff fairly”, he advised and emphasized, “Embrace all staff fairly and never victimize anyone”. He called on them to treat staff seriously and respectfully. “We should build bridges and not fences”, he advised.

He commended Hon.Timbo and called for regional connectivity to promote the interest of peace and tranquility for the nation.
On the National Protected Area Authority, he admonished the mitigation of climate change and urged the nominee to protect the environment.

On the appointee of the Office of Ombudsman, the Leader warned that the young and dynamic appointment to perform and said the Government has to step up and promote the interest of the people. “As a young man I trust you to deliver,” he said.

On the appointee in the Ministry of Finance, the Opposition Leader called on her to change the narrative in that Ministry and work in line with the laws of the land in terms of disbursement of funds to MDA’s
On the NRA Boss, he referred to her as a good Leader and went on to reference her work on the just concluded process of the National budget in Parliament as Deputy Minister of Finance.”You are a coach of NRA and you should work with all players in the NRA office”, he advised and went on to call her to do the needful to promote the interest of the country.
On the disparity of Salary, he called on Alpha Timbo to work assiduously to address the wages and salaries. “This subject has been there for ages and I know you can do it to address the Wage Bill”, he concluded

On the land commission and NMA appointees, he called on them to perform and ensure that people benefit.

On drugs, the Leader said, a good number of youth are dying from drugs (Kush) and called on appointees on the Drugs Commission to be proactive in their work to address the “Kush” issue.
On the economy, he requested for due diligence to be done and also admonished on the improvement of economic policies. He prayed for the success of the country to alleviate the hardship.

In concluding the debate, the Leader of Government Business, Hon.Marhew Sahr Nyuma said all of the nominees were qualified and went on to applaud the nominations of women. He appreciated MPs for their contributions to the debate and commended the work of the Appointment Committee for scrutinizing the appointees

On behalf of Parliament, the Acting Speaker of Parliament Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas admonished the appointees to work and make differences in their appointment and wished them well in their pursuits.

In another development also, The Parliament of Sierra Leone, on Wednesday 20/12/2023, ratified the Amendment to the Build-Operate-Transfer Agreement For the Construction Financing and Concession of Freetown International Airport and Between the Government of the Republic Of Sierra Leone and FIA Limited (Formerly known as SUMMA Airports Sierra Leone Limited Dated 8 -December -2023.

Credit: Parliamentary and Public Relations Department, Parliament of Sierra Leone