Structure definitely is related to function. Sometimes we struggle a lot to be effective and efficient in performance because of the kinds of structures, systems procedures and processes that we put in place. These coupled with one track mindset, are far disjointed from the realities of our situations on the ground. Our 21st century is more prone to the kind of transformational development that saves time without at the same time sacrificing a result based performance. Double and triple loop thinking are accepted these days. Nobody is going to count how many activities you have done, but actually what impact your action is having on people’s lives especially marginalized and most vulnerable people who are still struggling with far below a dollar a day. Local governance was reinstituted in 2004 and this year’s elections will be the third. This means we have had enough experiment with governance at local level governance, with all the challenges and successes. One thing that has come out clearly is the importance of governance at local level. In the same token there has been so much limelight on the Councilors. I have been closely following the roles of the Member of Parliament and the Councilor. However one notices a vast disparity between the two. Being an MP is full-time and a paid job. On the other hand the Councilor is more or less a Volunteer and is only given allowances for attending various meetings of the council. At the time there were no local councils, the most popular role of the Member of Parliament was being representatives of the people of their constituencies. Later when the Councils were reinstituted and the Law Making role of the MP became that prominent the link with the constituencies suffered very uncomfortable lulls. Now MPs tend to spend 99% of their time in Freetown where they attend Parliament sessions and many other Committee meetings, which are definitely more attractive than suffering their jeeps to traverse terrible terrains leading to their constituencies. Members of Parliament receive constituency facilitation funds while the councilors do not get such funds to move their wards forward.
If you see what I mean there are indeed many grey areas in the laws relating to Parliament and Councils. These need to be cleared in order to reduce tensions between these two very related and important bodies especially in terms of development and governance. One would have actually thought that with all three elections coming in this same year 2012, some tidying up work could have been done to clear some obvious discrepancies like the relationship between the Paramount chiefs and Council Chairmen.
Over the years we have seen that the formulation of our laws in isolation is a big flaw when one comes to think of the critical connectivity between the governance and livelihood sectors that are constantly experiencing interplay. Take mining for example; it has direct bearing on human rights, livelihoods, governance, the environment, demography, and infrastructure. So formulating laws on mining means all the other aforementioned sectors need to be on board so that it gets a more holistic outlook. Take for example the direct link between agriculture, mining and infrastructure like roads. In one of the budget discussions in recent years, it was even advised that the budget for food security incorporate some aspects of roads, like feeder roads that are so critical. This is where the SLRA and the councils should work together rather than tenaciously clinging to their specific mandates selfishly put in their individual statutory instruments. Sure also the Ministry of Trade should be concerned about the processing and marketability of agricultural products. It is a whole chain! Do I hear that the SLRA is yet to devolve certain functions to the councils?
One important angle is the need to clearly delimit the roles of the various players in the governance line from the macro to the micro levels. So much synergetic cooperation is needed if democracy is to be sustained. Preparing for 2012 is a big chance to fine-tune, streamline and bring out viable connectivity to help ensure good governance. Particularly worth noting are the linkages between the Members of Parliament and the Councilors. These are two bodies that are so critical to the running of the state that it will be foolhardy to under play their roles if we care for the democratic representative scenario we claim to have in Mama Salone. Of late one has come to realize that the Member of Parliament and the Councilor are very critical to the smooth running of our growing democracy. The two might be poles apart in terms of levels of authority and even roles but definitely seem rather close in terms of how they should relate to the communities they represent.
One main reality that now stares us straight in the face is that the MP can no longer be the MP you knew over the years. Are they the true representatives of the people? Be frank between the MP and the Councilor who is actually of the people? Interestingly the two are elected by the people in their various areas of control. The major function of parliament which is to make laws puts them in direct reponsility of safeguarding the rights of the people they represent. But are they in actual fact able to stay close to the people? With all the committee meetings in Freetown, can they really find time to be with the people? Some MPs do manage to visit their constituencies. Yes, granted that the budget allocates some amount for Constitutuency facilitation. Now do the people know what this is all about? The laws of Sierra Leone make provision for the payment of salaries to MPs. On the other hand Councilors are not paid …what they get are sitting allowances that to some extent are linked with the buoyancy of the particular local council. Being directly dealing with the day-to-day affairs of the wards they have very hands- on experience with the problems of the people. They bear all the pressure from the people who for the most part do not completely understand the issues of governance especially as it relates to central governance. The main action coordination in the districts happen at the district headquarters towns where the council Offices and staff reside.
Nowadays every sector of society is trying to get into associations or unions in order to safeguard their interests. Some time ago the Councilors met in Bo and formed the Council of Councilors and came out with quite a lot of issues hinging on their welfare and roles. I even understand that the chair men and mayors have their own Association. Do we really think things will work out well with all these arrangements? But again this is really not the main point. Now Councilors are crying for improved sitting allowances. Just as the MPs undergo quite a lot of expenses in the City, so do Councilors in the district headquarter towns. Some come from far away depraved communities and do not even have any means of transportation to facilitate their work. Don’t you see we have a problem on our handsit seems– as long as the Councilors have to devote so much time on pursuing the developmental aspirations of their people. A new development is that someone has done some research and has come out with the statistics that nearly half of our current Councilors are teachers. The implication here is that our school children might well be missing a lot of classes as their teachers are busy doing Council work. The same happens during elections time when the bulk of the officers are drawn from the teaching field.
I see that our people need a lot of overstanding on the power dynamics between the Councilors, the MPs and the Chairmen of the Councils. Some councils are having problems with their chairmen partly because the latter’s remuneration position seems an issue of contention. What do we do? Indeed we cannot afford to put Councilors on salary, or can we? Will placing them on salaries like MPs improve the development situation of the communities? There does not seem to be the necessary guarantee as some councilors may not be up to the mark when it comes to ability and performance. You see many people prefer to go for the MP position and not the volunteer position of Councilor. Well I only hope that the return of the District Officers will not complicate issues further. Do you see what I see? Politicking at district level is going to be more challenging and interesting. In Districts where one party dominates the council we see a lot of political intolerance. There is even enough proof that successful governance in such Councils is not guaranteed. Given the raw fact that the bulk of our depraved and vulnerable people live in remote rural areas; structures there should be improved in such a way that they could be bailed from this situation. Let us realize that the evaluation of oneself in relation to ones goal is part of a purposeful life.
By Ben Cambayma
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