The Pujehun District Council Chairman Sadiq Sillah has expressed his total dissatisfaction over the manner government is treating them.
In an exclusive interview with the chairman in his office at the Pujehun District council, Sadiq Sillah stated that most Mayors and Chairmen of District Councils are without official vehicles while junior government officials in Freetown and other big towns are entitled to official vehicles.” If Junior officials are given vehicles to capacitate them to do their work why not us” he asked.
He lamented that by virtue of their positions as Mayors and Chairmen of Councils they are heads and fathers of their respective districts just like how the President is father of the nation.
Sadiq Sillah pointed out that government is failing to give them the respect they deserve. Adding that for the Rule Of Law and Good Governance to be realized in every corner of Sierra Leone government must treat them with seriousness and respect.
Speaking about developmental strides within the Pujehun District, the Council Chairman stated that his District has a favorable geographical climate for swamp rice farming.
He proudly mentioned that with the strategic location of the viable and fertile land at Gbo-Ndapi in the Pujehun district, he has no mendacity to say that Pujehun has the potential to feed the entire Southern Region of Sierra Leone.
Sadiq Sillah explained that his Council has identified some feeder roads and major bridges within the district for construction.
Some bad roads leading to Chiefdom Headquarter towns and other big towns have already been repaired under his administration.
He also said that in a move to take the Council closer to the people he has succeeded in rotating their meetings among the 12 chiefdoms in the District.
He commended the Ministry of Local Government and Ministry Finance and Economic Planning for making sure that power is given to Local Councils through the Decentralization Programme.
He stated that this has really given them power to do their work with efficiency and effectiveness.
Highlighting some of the challenges he has been faced with, the chairman alleged that some politicians have been trying to undermine his administration by using staff members of the Council.
He pointed out that certain staff members who have different political allegiance have in the past deliberately refused to perform responsibilities assigned to them so that the name of the Council will be presented in a bad light.
The Chairman called on Government to give equal treatment to all the districts irrespective of political affiliation
By William Freeman and Easmon Moigua