By Mohamed Kamara
The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, Madam Melrose Gabisi has told journalists at the usual press briefing that was organized by the Ministry of Information and Communication on Thursday 16th February 2023, that the Ministry of Local Government in consultation with the office of the Attorney General has informed all Mayors, Chairpersons and Councilors in all 22 Councils to leave office in the month of March 2023, and handover to the Chief Administrator of the Council.
She said 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 many criticism from the social media condemning government’s decision.
She said the government of President Bio has reviewed 2004 Local Council Act which automatically makes it outdated and replaced it with the 2022 Local Council Act. She said government has also reviewed the 2010 Decentralization Policies in 2020 to introduce many new policies it thought would improve on the work of the Local Councils and attract development and equally maintained the Devolution of Finances to Local Council which is aimed at boosting their activities.
The Minister said the Bio’s Administration has ensured that all Mayors, Chairpersons and Councilors now receive monthly salaries together with end of service benefits include all Paramount Chiefs who used to receive only few tokens from the previous governments but not salaries. She said aspiring councilors in the next Local Council Elections will have enough time to engage in the campaign for their re-election. She insists that the government has not done anything outside the law but according to the law. She said 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 there were over seventy Paramount Chieftaincy Elections of which they have conducted thirty eight Paramount Chieftaincy Elections and returned four Paramount Chiefs who were facing problems with their subject. She said the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone which conducts the elections is presently overwhelmed with a lot of activities that entails the June 24 elections. This includes; the distribution of voter cards, training of the voluntary staff, distribution of materials and storage etc. She noted that the Bio’s Administration has democratically acted within the principles of good governance.
