By Shadrach Aziz Kamara
In a recent engagement, the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on the National Commission for Social Action (NACSA) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), chaired by Hon. Abdul Latif Sesay, has on Wednesday 19th March 2025 held a familiarization meeting with the Office of the Administrator and Registrar General (OARG). The meeting aimed to strengthen collaboration, address challenges, and explore ways to enhance service delivery.
The newly appointed Administrator General Martina Baindu Egbainda Esq expressed confidence in her ability to contribute to the institution, emphasizing that her predecessor had laid a strong foundation. She outlined the office’s two core mandates: administration and registration services, stressing improvements in document processing and efficiency.
She noted the digitalization of marriage records, expansion of regional offices, and improved timelines for document registration as key achievements. However, she raised concerns about funding constraints, delays in budget allocations, and the potential loss of key mandates to other institutions.
One of the major issues discussed was the financial struggles faced by the OARG. According to the office’s financial team, despite generating significant revenue for the government, they have not received their full budget allocations, which hampers operations. The call for retaining a percentage of generated revenue to fund activities was strongly emphasized.
Additionally, the transfer of certain mandates, such as marriage registration to the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) and land registration to the National Lands Commission, was flagged as a major concern. Officials argued that these institutions lack the capacity to handle such responsibilities effectively, and parliament was urged to intervene.
The head of the Intellectual Property Division highlighted the importance of protecting copyrights, patents, and trademarks. Despite progress in raising awareness and generating revenue, funding limitations were affecting expansion efforts.
Other speakers from the OARG emphasized the importance of timely registration of marriages and land documents, the need for more staff in provincial areas, and the urgency of digitalizing archives to ensure record preservation.
Committee members acknowledged the critical role of the OARG in governance and legal documentation. They encouraged the office to formally document its concerns and submit them to parliament for further discussion and possible intervention.
In closing, Hon. Abdul Latif Sesay reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to advocating for the OARG, stating that the committee serves as a lobbying body to push for solutions to institutional challenges. He assured the office of continued engagement and support in addressing funding, mandate retention, and operational efficiency.
The meeting ended with a call for strengthened collaboration between the OARG and the parliamentary committee to ensure effective service delivery for citizens.
